L  I  B  RARY 

OF  THE 

UNIVERSITY 

Of    ILLINOIS 

9772 

In2 

v.7 

cop.  4 


lii.  HIST.  SURVEY 


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INDIANA  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY  PUBLICATIONS 
VOL.  7  NO.  7 


FORT  WAYNE 


IN 


1790 


BY 


M.  M.  QUAIFE 


GREENFIELD,     IND. 
WILLIAM    MITCHELL   PRINTING   CO. 

1921 


NOTE 

The  following  journal  of  Henry  Hay — son  of  the  "Major 
Hay,"  who  was  captured  at  Vincennes  with  General  Ham- 
ilton, by  George  Rogers  Clark — presents  an  intimate  view 
of  life  at  Fort  Wayne  in  the  winter  of  1789-90.  It  was  orig- 
inally printed  by  Mr.  Quaife  in  the  Proceedings  of  the  Wis- 
consin Historical  Society  for  1914,  under  the  title:  "A 
Narrative  of  Life  on  the  Old  Frontier."  On  account  of  its 
peculiar  interest  to  Indiana  it  is  reproduced  here,  by  per- 
mission of  Mr.  Quaife  and  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Society. 


INTRODUCTION 

Probably  the  vast  majority  of  Americans  think  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  as  lasting  from  1775  to  1783.  It  is  true  the 
Treaty  of  Paris  marks  the  formal  conclusion  of  the  struggle. 
But  it  does  not  mark  the  conclusion  of  angry  debate  with  the 
mother  country,  nor  the  evacuation  of  American  territory  by 
British  soldiery.  Neither  Great  Britain  nor  the  United  States 
adhered  scrupulously  to  its  treaty  obligations,  and  the  former 
manifested  no  intention  of  evacuating  the  Western  posts,  lying 
within  the  borders  of  the  younger  nation.  The  real  reason  for 
this  was  commercial.  On  the  fur  trade  depended  the  pros- 
perity of  Canada.  To  control  the  fur  trade  the  British  must 
control  the  Indians.  Hence  the  obligation  to  evacuate  the 
upper  posts  was  disregarded,  and  for  a  dozen  years  after  the 
conclusion  of  the  Treaty  of  Paris  the  major  portion  of  the 
country  northwest  of  the  Ohio  River  continued  to  be  treated 
as  British  territory.  The  Indian  tribes  of  this  region  were 
then  numerous  and  powerful.  Relying  upon  the  British  for 
material  support  they  waged  bloody  warfare  upon  the  Ameri- 
cans in  the  vain  hope  of  confining  the  advancing  tide  of  set- 
tlement to  the  south  side  of  the  Ohio.  The  government  of  the 
Confederation  was  almost  a  nullity.  Its  successor,  the  feeble 
Federal  government,  distracted  by  the  many  problems  pressing 
for  solution,  was  exceedingly  averse  to  accepting  the  gage  of 
battle  thus  thrown  down.  When  at  length  it  did,  three  suc- 
cessive armies  and  five  years  of  painful  effort  were  required  to 
humble  the  belligerent  tribesmen.  Thus  the  Revolution  in  the 
West  may  not  unfairly  be  said  to  have  lasted  a  score  of  years, 
and  to  have  closed  only  with  the  Jay  and  Greenville  treaties. 


296  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

A  variety  of  reasons  exist  for  publishing  the  Journal  which 
is  presented  in  the  following  pages.  The  incidents  recorded 
day  by  day  by  this  British  partisan,  sojourning  in  one  of  the 
chief  of  the  hostile  towns,  shed  a  ghastly  light  upon  the  forays 
which  goaded  the  American  bordermen  to  madness  and  their 
government  into  reluctant  war.  A  perusal  of  the  details  pre- 
sented by  our  journalist — the  heart  of  the  American  prisoner, 
pierced  with  a  stick  and  preserved  "like  a  piece  of  dryed  veni- 
son ;"  the  plight  of  the  captive,  John  Witherington,  separated 
from  his  wife,  "7  months  gone  with  childe,"  and  seven  children, 
who  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  other  bands  of  barbarians ;  the 
destruction  of  forty  souls,  men,  women,  and  children ;  the  all 
night  dance  of  savage  triumph  in  celebration  of  such  atrocities 
as  these — prepare  the  reader  to  appreciate  the  indignation  with 
which  the  militant  author  of  The  Winning  of  the  West  wrote 
of  this  period  in  our  history. 

Whether  justly  or  not,  the  harassed  American  borderers  as- 
cribed to  Great  Britain  the  real  responsibility  for  their  intoler- 
able plight.  The  present  day  opinion  of  well  informed  students 
of  the  subject  inclines  to  acquit  the  home  government  of  any 
positive  agency  in  the  matter.  But  the  present  day  scholar,  pos- 
sessing sources  of  information  denied  to  contemporaries  and 
entire  immunity  from  the  gory  scalping  knife  and  tomahawk, 
may  consider  the  subject  calmly  and  philosophically;  the  Amer- 
ican borderer's  opinions  were  based  upon  the  acts  of  Great 
Britain's  agents  in  America  and  the  visible  facts  of  the  situation 
on  the  frontier.  Whatever  the  real  motives  of  the  home  gov- 
ernment in  the  premises,  the  conclusions  drawn  by  the  fron- 
tiersmen from  the  information  at  their  command  were  not 
unreasonable.  Whoever  would  understand  the  enthusiasm  of 
the  frontier  for  war  with  England  in  1812  must  take  account 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  297 

of  the  conditions  revealed  by  such  documents  as  the  one 
which  follows.  When  the  Delawares  threaten  to  remove  to 
the  Spaniards,  and,  "not  go  to  war  against  the  Americans  any 
more,"  the  authority  of  McKee,  the  British  Indian  agent,  is 
invoked  to  restrain  them.  When  it  is  believed  that  the  trader, 
Lasselle,  is  to  be  burned  by  the  natives  because  of  his  sup- 
posed sympathy  with  the  Americans,  the  affair  is  reported  to 
Major  Murray,  the  British  commandant  at  Detroit ;  and  Las- 
selle's  good  character  is  finally  established  by  a  certificate 
signed  by  all  the  villagers — living  in  the  heart  of  the  modern 
Indiana — that  he  is  "a  good  loyalist"  and  "always  for  support- 
ing his  King."  A  trader  going  to  the  Wabash  must  have  a 
British  pass ;  one  who  speaks  disrespectfully  of  the  British  offi- 
cials at  Detroit  is  reported  to  those  authorities  therefor;  while 
the  author  of  our  Journal,  a  British  partisan,  dares  not  ven- 
ture his  "carcass"  among  the  Americans  at  Vincennes. 

Some  interesting  views  are  afforded  by  the  Journal  of  the 
conditions  affecting  the  conduct  of  the  fur  trade.  The  calling 
of  the  trader  was  one  of  toil  and  privation,  his  life  constantly 
liable  to  forfeiture  at  the  hands  of  the  elements  or  of  the  fickle 
and  impulsive  red  man.  The  sordid  rivalry  of  the  traders ;  the 
situation  of  Chevallier,  "continually  exposed  to  the  malice  and 
treachery  of  the  Indians  about  him,"  the  degenerating  influ- 
ence of  the  wild  life,  exhibited  in  the  renegade,  Montraville ; 
the  menu  of  acorns  on  which  La  Fontaine  lived  for  five  days 
in  succession;  the  lying  report  about  Lasselle,  designed  to 
compass  his  destruction;  details  such  as  these  incline  one  to 
give  the  journalist's  dictum  that  it  was  "a  Rascally  Scrambling 
Trade"  a  more  general  application  than  was  intended  by  its 
author. 

For  the  general  reader  the  chief  interest  of  the  document 


298  Fort    Wayne   in    1790 

will  lie,  probably,  in  its  picture  of  the  life  of  the  old  French 
and  Indian  trading  post,  Miamitown.  As  I  pen  these  lines  my 
eye  strays  for  a  moment  to  the  advertisement,  on  the  page  of 
a  half-opened  magazine,  of  a  great  manufacturing  establish- 
ment of  Fort  Wayne ;  and  as  with  a  sudden  rush  I  seem  to 
realize  how  wide  is  the  gulf  which  separates  the  life  of  the 
city  at  the  forks  of  the  Maumee  today  from  that  of  its  prede- 
cessor of  a  century  and  a  quarter  ago.  The  St.  Joseph  and 
St.  Mary's  still  unite  to  form  the  Maumee,  and  still  the  spring- 
time flood,  which  drove  the  French  habitants  to  their  garrets 
and  made  the  canoe  the  only  vehicle  of  transportation  from 
house  to  house,  recurs  to  plague  the  modern  city.  But  in  all 
else  the  imagination  can  scarcely  conceive  a  wider  gulf  than 
the  one  which  separates  the  Fort  Wayne  of  today  from  the 
Miamitown  of   1790. 

Our  journalist  presents,  as  with  a  moving  picture  film,  a 
cross-section  of  life  from  what  is  commonly  considered  the 
most  romantic  period  in  the  history  of  the  old  Northwest.  To 
the  critical  eve  of  the  conquering  Anglo-Saxon  the  French 
settlers  were  slothful,  vicious,  and  indolent.  That  there  was 
a  measure  of  truth  in  this  judgment  need  not  be  denied.  But 
the  characteristic  vivacity  and  gaiety  of  the  French  spirit  shows 
nowhere  to  better  advantage  than  when  set  off  by  such  hard 
material  conditions  as  those  portrayed  in  the  following  pages. 
A  careless  reader  of  the  Journal  might  well  gather  the  impres- 
sion that  social  diversion  was  the  chief  business  of  its  charac- 
ters. Feasts,  dances,  and  ceremonies  follow  one  another  in 
close  succession.  The  settlers  assemble  for  midnight  mass 
and  for  morning  and  evening  prayers  on  Sunday,  called  there- 
to by  the  lusty  ringing  of  cowbells.  The  musicians  play  the 
flute  and  fiddle  indifferently  for  drinking  bout  and  mass,  and 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  299 

at  times  go  reeling  from  the  one  to  the  other.  A  "Pigg"  is 
stolen  for  a  joke  and  the  victim  composes  a  ballad  on  the  sub- 
ject. The  order  of  the  ''Friars  of  St.  Andrew"  is  organized 
for  purposes  not  sanctioned  by  the  rules  of  St.  Benedict,  fur- 
nishing the  subject  for  another  ballad.  Not  even  the  flood- 
ing of  the  town  suffices  to  quench  the  gaiety,  for  before  the 
flood  has  subsided  the  ladies  are  taken  for  a  row  on  the  river 
to  the  accompaniment  of  fiddle  and  flute. 

Interesting,  too,  are  some  of  the  quaint  customs  of  the  time. 
Men  appear  at  a  ball  wearing  fur  caps  adorned  with  "Black 
Ostridge  Feathers"  and  "amasingly  large"  cockades  of  white 
tinsel  ribbon.  On  New  Year's  day  the  journalist  makes  the 
round  of  the  village  kissing  all  the  ladies  "young  and  old." 
That  temperance  reform  had  as  yet  made  its  appearance  at  the 
forks  by  the  Maumee  can  scarcely  be  affirmed.  On  December 
25  our  journalist  and  his  companions  became  "infernally 
drunk ;"  at  an  entertainment  the  following  evening  all  except 
the  writer  became  "very  drunk ;"  the  next  evening  the  cele- 
brants are  "damned  drunk ;"  and  the  following  forenoon  finds 
them  again  at  their  cups.  On  the  occasion  of  another  evening 
party  it  is  deemed  worthy  of  record  that  none  of  the  men 
became  drunk,  "which  is  mostly  the  case  in  this  place  when 
they  collect  together." 

The  original  Journal  is  the  property  of  the  Detroit  Public 
Library.  For  furnishing  the  copy  here  presented  acknowledg- 
ment is  due  Mr.  Clarence  M.  Burton  of  Detroit,  a  valiant  laborer 
in  the  local  historical  field.  The  document  is  a  small  volume 
having  a  calfskin  cover.  It  bears  upon  both  sides  the  name  of 
P.  H.  Hay  but  within  the  journalist  preferred,  apparently,  to 
sign  the  name  Henry.  Without  positive  knowledge  in  the 
premises,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  P.  H.  Hay  and  Henry 
Hay  were  one  and  the  same  person,  an  opinion  shared  by  Mr. 


300  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

Burton.  Pierre  Hay  was  born  and  baptized  September  1 1, 
1765.  The  records  of  St.  Anne  Parish  contain  no  further  men- 
tion of  him,  but  Henry  is  mentioned  as  a  witness  at  baptisms 
in  1787  and  1792. 

The  father,  Jehu  Hay,  was  a  Detroit  citizen  of  much  promi- 
nence in  the  generation  of  the  Revolution.  A  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, he  enlisted  in  the  Sixtieth  American  Regiment  during 
the  French  and  Indian  War,  and  in  1762  was  sent  to  Detroit 
with  a  detachment  of  troops.  He  served  there  during  Pon- 
tiac's  War  and  later  entered  the  Indian  Department.  In  1776 
he  was  made  deputy  Indian  agent  and  major  of  the  Detroit 
militia.  In  this  capacity  he  acted  as  Governor  Hamilton's  chief 
assistant  in  the  latter's  contest  with  George  Rogers  Clark  for 
the  control  of  the  Northwest.  Upon  the  triumph  of  the  latter, 
Hay,  like  Hamilton,  his  leader,  was  consigned  to  a  Virginia 
dungeon.  Toward  the  close  of  the  war,  having  been  released 
from  captivity  and  returned  to  Quebec,  he  was  appointed  lieu- 
tenant-governor of  Detroit;  he  had  actually  performed  the 
duties  of  his  office  for  only  a  year,  however,  when  his  career 
was  cut  short  by  death,  in  1785. 

The  nature  of  Henry  Hay's  mission  to  Miamitown  is  no- 
where stated  in  the  Journal.  Apparently  he  was  in  the  pay  of 
William  Robertson,  the  Detroit  merchant ;  there  seems  to  be 
ground,  too,  for  the  conjecture  that  he  was  acting  in  some 
public  capacity  for  Major  Murray.  Possibly  the  missing  pages 
would  have  supplied  the  explanation,  but  its  absence  does  not 
affect  materially  the  historical  interest  attaching  to  the 
document. 

Miamitown,  where  Hay  passed  the  winter,  was  in  1790  the 
most  important  center  of  the  Miami  Indians.  Situated  at  the 
junction  of  the  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph  rivers,  and  com- 


Fort    Wayne    in    1790  301 

manding  the  important  Maumee- Wabash  portage,  it  was  one 
of  the  vital  strategic  points  of  the  Northwest.  Recognizing 
this  the  French,  in  their  expansion  over  the  interior,  in  1722, 
established  a  fort  on  the  St.  Mary's,  at  the  beginning  of  the 
portage.  In  1747,  as  the  result  of  an  Indian  conspiracy,  Fort 
Miami  was  burned  to  the  ground.  It  was  shortly  rebuilt,  at  the 
junction  of  the  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Joseph's,  and  was  occupied 
successively  by  French  and  English  garrisons  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1763,  when  it  fell  before  the  followers  of  Pontiac. 
The  garrison  was  not  restored  thereafter  by  the  English,  but 
the  French  habitants  continued  to  reside  here,  and  the  traders 
to  resort  to  the  place.  As  one  of  the  chief  centers  whence  the 
Indian  war  parties  issued  forth  against  the  border  settlements, 
when  the  American  government  at  length  determined  upon  a 
course  of  retaliation,  Miamitown  was  at  once  marked  for  chas- 
tisement. Over  the  festive  traders  a  dire  fate  was  impending. 
The  Americans  believed  that  they  were  engaged  in  hounding 
the  savages  on  to  their  work  of  devastation  and  torture.  The 
traders  on  their  part  denied  this,  and  probably  with  truth,  for 
the  conditions  of  Indian  warfare  and  the  successful  prosecution 
of  the  fur  trade  were  mutually  antagonistic.  This  fact  in  no 
wise  altered  the  American  belief,  however,  and  General  Har- 
mar,  commander  of  the  army  about  to  be  launched  against 
Miamitown,  was  promising,  in  the  event  of  a  successful  issue 
of  the  campaign,  to  attend  to  the  case  of  "the  villanous 
traders." 

When  the  American  army  at  length  approached,  in  October, 
1790,  the  natives  drew  back  a  short  distance  in  anticipation  of 
the  blow.  Miamitown  was  burned  and  a  series  of  bloodv  con- 
flicts ensued.  The  stream  whereon  but  a  few  months  before 
the  Canadian  ladies  had  been  rowed  to  the  music  of  violin  and 


302  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

flute  now  ran  red  with  the  blood  of  the  soldiers.  Eventually 
the  Americans  retired,  the  net  result  of  the  expedition  being  a 
"mortifying  failure." 

Harmar's  expedition  inaugurated  a  five-year  period  of  war- 
fare by  the  American  government  for  the  reduction  of  the 
tribesmen.  Through  it  all,  the  site  of  Miamitown  at  the  forks 
of  the  Maumee  was  a  principal  goal  of  endeavor.  St.  Clair 
was  ordered  to  establish  a  large  military  station  here  in  1791  ; 
instead,  he  led  his  army  to  one  of  the  most  terrible  defeats  in 
American  military  annals.  In  1794,  a  third  American  army  at 
length  succeeded.  Miamitown  was  once  more  ravaged.  Fort 
Wayne  was  constructed,  and  therewith  the  name  of  the  grim 
conqueror  became  permanently  attached  to  the  place.  With 
this  change,  this  introduction  to  Hay's  Journal  may  properly 
conclude. 


JOURNAL  FROM  DETROIT  TO  THE 
MIAMI  RIVER 

Left  Detroit  9th.  December  89,  in  company  with  Mr.  Leith,1 
and  attended  by  a  French  man  and  a  negro.  Got  this  night 
within  ]/o  mile  of  Adam  Browns,2  slept  in  a  deserted  House, 
found  it  difficult  to  get  a  canoe  to  cross  River  aux  Ecorse. 

10th.  Left  this  place  about  J/2  past  8  o'clock.  Crossed  the 
River  Huron  very  well,  from  that  proceeded  to  River  au  Ro- 
zain3  w[h]ere  arrived  about  x/i  past  4  o'clock  in  the  Evening, 
found  the  roads  very  bad,  creeks  high,  owing  to  the  great  falls 
of  rain  ;  slept  at  Capt.  Bennacs4  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  this 
new  Settlement  who  received  us  very  well — saw  my  uncle 
Baptist  Reaume3  who  promised  to  send  my  Maire  into  Detroit 
immediately. 

lGeorge  Leith,  a  prominent  Detroit  trader.  In  1788  he  was  represented  to  a 
government  investigating  committee  at  Quebec  as  a  man  "of  liberal  education 
and  highly  respected  in  the  settlement  [Detroit]."  Michigan  Pioneer  and  His- 
torical Collections,  XI,  633.  A  number  of  his  letters  are  printed  in  Indiana  Maga- 
zine of  History,  V,  138  ff. 

2According  to  one  account  of  Pontiac's  Conspiracy  Adam  Brown  was  at 
Detroit  as  early  as  1763.  He  resided  at  Brownstown  for  a  long  time,  later 
removing  to  Maiden.  In  1793  and  1794  he  furnished  supplies  to  the  British 
authorities  for  use  on  the  Maumee.  See  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  VIII,  366; 
XXXV,   63,  64;    XXXVI,  358. 

3The  modern  Raisin.  On  Thomas  Hutchins'  map  of  1778  the  name  appears 
as   "Au   Rosine." 

4Probably  J.  Porlier  Benac,  captain  of  the  Raisin  River  militia  company. 
After  Jay's  Treaty  Benac  was  one  of  those  who  elected  to  remain  a  British  sub- 
ject.    See  Ibid,  VIII,  410,  498;   XXIV,  248. 

sPierre  and  Hyacinthe  Reaume,  brothers,  came  to  Detroit  in  1726.  They 
became  the  progenitors  of  a  numerous  line  of  descendants,  who  from  Detroit 
spread  over  the  Northwest.  Baptiste  Reaume  was  evidently  the  brother  of  Hay's 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Marie  Julie  Reaume. 

303 


304  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

nth.  Left  Capt.  Bennacas  this  morning  about  8  o'clock;  it 
was  with  difficulty  that  we  crossed  the  River  Rozin  the  Water 
being  very  high — Rain  this  morning,  which  turned  out  into 
snow  afterwards.  Found  the  Roads  damned  bad  about  half 
way,  arrived  at  the  Foot  of  the  Rapids  at  McCormicks  about 
sun  sete — found  myself  very  tired ;  found  Mr.  Arthur  McCor- 
mick  here  going  out  Trading — 

1 2th.  Left  Mr.  McCormick  about  10  o'clock,  stopped  at 
Cochrans  at  Roch  de  Bout6  gott  a  Venison  Stake  &  proceeded 
to  the  Prierie  des  Maske7  were  we  made  a  large  fire  &  en- 
camped, found  the  roads  pretty  passable. 

13th.  Left  this  place  this  morning  about  8  o'clock  and  pro- 
ceeded to  Glaize,8  w[h]ere  we  arrived  about  */>  past  3  o'clock 
— we  were  received  very  graciously  by  Mr.  McDonnell  who 
lives  there ;  he  gave  us  good  venison  stakes  &  cyder — grogg  &c. 
for  Dinner; — Roasted  venison  for  supper.  &c. 

14th.  Left  this  place  about  n  o'clock;  but  we  were  obliged 
to  send  our  little  baggage  on  to  the  little  Glaize  about  three 
miles  from  this  bigg  Glaize  which  [a]  canoe  crossed  us  over — 
and  we  swam  our  Horses — the  water  was  very  high.    Slept  this 

6Roche  de  Bout  was  the  name  given  by  the  early  French  travelers  to  a 
rocky  point  projecting  into  the  channel  of  the  Maumee  about  a  mile  above  the 
modern  Waterville,  Lucas  County,  Ohio.  It  was  also  the  name  of  an  Ottawa 
village  in  the  immediate  vicinity.  Wayne's  decisive  victory  over  the  tribesmen  in 
the  battle  of  Fallen  Timbers,  August  20,  1794,  occurred  a  short  distance  down 
the  Maumee  from  Roche  de  Bout.  See  C.  E.  Slocum,  History  of  the  Maumee  River 
Basin  (Defiance,  O.,  1905),  461;  F.  W.  Hodge  (ed.),  Handbook  of  American 
Indians    (Washington,    1907). 

7Prairie  du  Masque  was  a  camping  station  a  short  distance  above  the  Grand 
Rapids  of  the  Maumee;  so  called  from  the  fancied  resemblance  of  the  grass- 
covered  bank  to  the  form  of  a  woman.  The  early  American  settlers,  with  uncon- 
scious  humor,   transformed  the   name  into   Damascus.      Slocum,   op.    cit.,    553. 

8 At  the  junction  of  the  Au  Glaize  River  with  the  Maumee;  commonly  called 
by  the  American  Grand  Glaize,  or  Glaize.  Fort  Defiance  was  built  there  by 
Wayne  in  1794,  and  later  the  place  became  the  site  of  the  modern  city  of  Defiance. 


Fort   Wayne    in    1790  305 

evening  about  8  Leagues  from  the  place  we  sett  out  from  upon 
a  Hill — Mr.  McDonnell  and  one  Blanchet9  an  ancient 
Canadia[n]  Trader  came  with  us  as  far  as  this  and  slept  with 
us ;  Mr.  McDonnell  had  a  horse  load  of  Indian  goods  and  was 
going  to  trade  them  at  the  Indian  wigwams  a  few  miles  in  the 
woods — a  small  distance  from  the  place  we  encamped  we  met 
with  some  Indian  Hutts  which  Mr.  McDonnell  visited,  on  his 
coming  an  Indian  asked  him  if  he  was  hungry ;  answered  yes, 
then  says  he  I'll  roast  a  Rackoon  for  you  &  asked  w[h]ere 
he  intended  to  encamp  that  he  might  know  w[h]ere  to  bring  it 
—Mr.  McDonnell  told  him— Mr.  McD.  told  us  his  story.  I 
believe  the  Indian  wanted  to  do  it,  but  Leith  did  not. — How- 
ever about  8  o'clock  in  the  evening,  just  after  we  had  supped, 
we  perceived  a  fire  brand  coming  thro'  the  woods,  which  proved 
to  be  the  Indian  with  a  roasted  Rackoon  cut  up  in  a  wooden 
dish  which  he  delivered  to  Mr.  McDonnell.  He  seemed  to  be 
a  very  merry  fellow,  he  left  us  about  10  o'clock — left  his 
wooden  dish,  it  being  their  custom,  they  come  for  it  when  they 
find  you  are  gone. — Haile  and  raine  this  evening  &  part  of 
the  night. 

15th.  Parted  with  Mr.  McDonnell  &  Blanchet  this  morning 
about  8  o'clock — rain  and  hail  till  11  or  12  o'clock,  found  the 
Road  very  bad.  slept  at  [illegible]  about  7  leagues  and  a  half 
from  the  Miami  Town — a  little  snow  this  evening. 

16th.     Left  this  place  this  morning  about  Yz  past  9  o'clock 

9Possibly  Joseph  Blanchet,  a  French-Canadian  trader  who  assisted  in  the 
ransoming  of  O.  M.  Spencer  at  Grand  Glaize  in  1792.  See  A  True  Narrative  of 
the  Captivity  of  the  Rev.  O.  M.  Spencer  by  the  Indians  in  the  Neighborhood  of 
Cincinnati,  written  by  Himself   (New  York,    1834  [?]). 


306  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

and  arrived  at  the  Miami  Town10  about  10  o'clock,  found  the 
roads  very  bad.     I  visited  Mrs.  Adamhers11  family. 

17th.  Wrote  to  Detroit  to  my  brother  Meredith  &  Baby, 
gave  them  an  account  of  my  jants  &  this  place  etc — visited  a 
couple  more  of  the  french  familys  at  this  place  found  them  very 
decent  &  polite — particularly  at  Mr.  Adamhers  who  gave  me  a 
very  friendly  invitation  to  their  house  sans  ceremonie. 

18th.  Wrote  Mr.  Robertson,12  with  respect  to  my  ^  pay 
certificates  not  being  able  to  send  them  in  by  Mr.  Sharpe13 
who  left  this  place  for  Detroit  this  day — but  promised  to  get 
them  made  out  the  25th  Inst  &  forward  them  in  by  the  first 
opportunity — We  have  had  most  delightful  weather  ever  since 

lOThe  site  of  the  modern  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana.  According  to  Capt.  John 
Armstrong,  a  member  of  Harmar's  army  which  raided  the  place  in  the  summer  of 
1790,  there  were  seven  distinct  villages  in  the  vicinity  of  the  junction  of  the  St. 
Mary's  and  the  St.  Joseph  rivers.  One  of  them  was  the  Miami  village,  in  the 
fork  of  the  St.  Joseph  and  the  Maumee.  Here  the  French  traders  lived.  See 
H.   S.    Knapp,  History  of  the  Maumee   Valley    (Toledo,    1872),    66. 

uProbably  the  name  should  be  spelled  Adhemar.  La  Balme,  who  plundered 
the  traders  at  Miamitown  in  1780,  lists  one  "Admer,"  a  merchant,  as  "a  dan- 
gerous man."  This  meant,  of  course,  that  according  to  La  Balme's  information 
he  was  loyal  to  the  British  cause.  In  March,  1779,  one  Adhemar  who  had  been 
sent  by  Hamilton  to  Miamitown  with  ten  perogues  and  thirty  men  to  get  provi- 
sions forwarded  from  Detroit,  was  captured  by  George  Rogers  Clark.  In  1788 
St.  Martin  Adhemar  was  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  newly-created 
District  of  Hesse.  William  Robertson,  the  spokesman  of  the  Detroit  traders  who 
memorialized  Lord  Dorchester  against  the  new  act,  gave  as  the  objection  to 
Adhemar  that  he  was  settled  at  Vincennes  "in  the  American  states."  See  Mich. 
Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  XI,  622,  632;  Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  Transactions, 
1909,  132;  Illinois  Historical  Collections,  VIII,  194;  for  a  brief  sketch  of  Adhe- 
mar's  career,  see  Wis.  Hist.   Colls.,  XIX,   159. 

l2Probably  William  Robertson,  a  prominent  merchant,  who  settled  at  Detroit 
in  1782.     See  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.   Colls.,  XI,  627  ff;   Wis.  Hist.   Colls.,  XIX,  272. 

lSGeorge  Sharp,  also  prominent  as  a  trader  at  Detroit.  Robertson  describes 
him  as  "of  liberal  education  and  highly  respected."  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls., 
XI,  633.  Sharp  was  with  Matthew  Elliott  when  the  latter  ransomed  O.  M.  Spencer 
at  Grand  Glaize  in  1792.  The  picture  which  Spencer  draws  of  him  on  that 
occasion  is  far  from  flattering.  For  further  facts  about  Sharp,  see  Wis.  Hist. 
Colls.,  XIX,  279,  291. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  307 

our  arrival  here.  I  think  upon  the  whole  this  is  a  very  pretty 
place — the  River  that  this  town  is  built  upon  is  called  the  River 
St.  Joseph  which  falls  into  the  Miami  River  very  near  the  town 
at  the  S.  W.  end  of  it.  This  day  a  prisoner  was  brought  in 
here ;  Rather  a  elderly  man  was  taken  better  than  a  month  ago 
at  a  place  called  the  little  Miami — the  Americans  are  now 
making  a  settlement  at  that  place14 — this  man  was  engaging  to 
work  for  one  John  Phillipps,  one  of  the  settlers,  was  out  in  a 
field  about  two  miles  from  his  masters,  saving  fother  for  the 
cattle  when  he  was  taken — last  Spring  was  the  first  time  they 
came  to  it.  Lower  down  the  river  towards  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio  about  five  miles  from  this  settlement  where  the  Ameri- 
cans are  now  very  busy  building  redoubts  &  block  Houses  ever 
since  last  Summer — they  have  three  companies  of  regular  Con- 
gress Troops — the  number  not  known15 — Those  three  com- 
panies came  from  three  different  places  viz : — Capt.  Pratt16 
from  Fort  Pratt,  Capt.  Strong17  from  Muskingum,  the  other  he 
does  not  know  his  name  came  from  the  Fall  of  Ohio,  this 
place  is  called  Licken18  after  a  small  river  about  the  width  of 

i4This  was  Columbia  City,  founded  in  November,  1788,  three-fourths  of  a 
mile  below  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Miami.  Its  projectors  fondly  hoped  to  see  it 
become  the  metropolis  of  the  surrounding  region,  and  for  a  year  or  more  their 
dreams  seemed  in  a  fair  way  of  being  realized.  But  the  greater  natural  advantages 
of  the  site  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Licking  river  destined  this  point,  where  Cin- 
cinnati was  shortly  founded,  to  be  the  site  of  the  future  metropolis.  In  1873 
Columbia  City,  still  a  small  town,  was  annexed  as  a  suburb  to  its  successful  rival. 

l5The  settlement  of  Cincinnati  was  begun  in  the  late  autumn  of  1788.  The 
following  summer  Fort  Washington  was  constructed  at  this  point  by  a  force  of 
troops  sent  down  the  Ohio   from  Fort  Harmar  for  this  purpose. 

i6Lieut.   John    Pratt,   enlisted  from   Pennsylvania. 

l7Capt.   David  Strong,  enlisted   from   New   York. 

i8The  Licking  River.  Apparently  Hay's  informant  was  unfamiliar  with  the 
more  imposing  designation  Losantiville  given  by  the  Kentucky  pedagogue,  John 
Filson,  to  the  infant  settlement.  This  hybrid,  compounded  for  the  occasion  from 
Greek,  Latin,  and  French  elements,  was  intended  by  its  compiler  to  signify  "town 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Licking."  In  1790,  at  the  behest  of  Governor  St.  Clair, 
Losantiville   gave   place   to   the   modern   Cincinnati. 


308  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

this  which  comes  from  Kentuck  and  falls  into  the  Ohio.  This 
place  has  been  commanded  lately  by  one  Major  Dotty,19  who 
is  gone  up  to  Muskinghum  for  his  health  as  supposed;  the 
Governor  (St.  Clair)  was  expected  down  in  his  place  for  a 
short  time.20  Capt.  Strong,  he  supposed  comn'd  in  the  absence 
of  the  major  until  the  arrival  of  the  Governor.  The  full  com- 
pliment of  the  subaltern  officers  of  the  compy's  he  thinks  were 
present  for  their  appeared  to  him  to  be  a  great  many  of  them 
— particularly  in  Capt.  Strong's  he  thinks  he  saw  at  least  three 
of  them.  He  never  was  w[h]ere  the  troops  are  but  one  Sun- 
day, therefore  cannot  give  a  certain  account.  This  man  is  an 
Irishman  born  in  the  County  of  Tipperary  came  to  America 
about  Twenty  years  ago — never  served  with  them  or  for  them, 
lived  the  greatest  part  of  the  war  in  Virginia  at  a  place  called 
Fort  Quire  County21  a  country  place — they  had  a  Court  House 
there — came  down  to  this  place  (the  little  Miami)  in  July  last. 
Last  place  he  came  from  was  Stantown22  Augusta  County — in 
Virginia.  Aged  about  upwards  of  Forty,  lost  his  father  and 
mother  very  young.  The  Indians  who  took  him  are  Dela- 
wares — did  not  use  him  ill  nor  did  they  took  him  with  that 
intention,  only  to  learn  intelligence  of  what  those  People  were 
about;  he  has  his  liberty,  is  to  live  with  us  the  whole  Winter 
as  a  servant  and  in  the  Spring  the  Indians  have  promised  to 
take  him  safe  back.     It  seems  that  he  would  prefer  remaining 

i9Maj.  John  Doughty,  commander  of  the  force  which  built  Fort  Washington. 
On  December  28,  1789,  General  Harmar,  descending  the  Ohio  from  Fort  Harmar, 
reached  the  new  fort,  and  named  it  Washington  "on  account  of  its  superior  excel- 
lence." Fort  Washington  now  became  the  military  headquarters  of  the  North- 
west. On  being  relieved  by  Harmar,  Major  Doughty  took  command  of  Fort  Har- 
mar, which  guarded  the  new  settlement  of  Marietta. 

20Governor   St.   Clair  reached   Cincinnati   on  January   2,   1790. 

2iFauquier   County. 

22Staunton. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  309 

in  this  country  had  be  but  his  cloaths  and  some  money  to  the 
amount  of  Ten  Pounds  Virginia  Money  which  Mr.  Phillipps 
owes  him.  He  was  allowed  from  him  for  his  work  40/  that 
currency  per  month  and  provisions — Virginia  money  is  the 
nearest  to  sterling  of  any  money  in  this  country  except  Halli- 
fax  is  6/  to  the  Dollar.  Visited  Mrs.  Adamher  and  family 
this  morning — This  evening,  also  visited  Mr.  Rivarr's23 — Miss 
Rivarr  is  a  very  pretty  girl,  inclined  to  be  stoute,  very  fair, 
black  eyes,  but  rather  aukward.  un  peu  a  la  Paysan. 

19th.  Froze  hard  last  night.  Ice  comes  down  the  river  But 
still  a  very  fine  day — This  day  arrived  here  the  Little  Turtle1* 
a  chief  of  the  Miamiae  with  his  war  party  consisting  of  about 
fifteen  or  sixteen — they  had  made  two  prisoners  (a  negro  and 
a  white  man)  the  negro  was  left  with  a  few  whites  at  the  Little 
Miami.  They  rest  went  out  looking  for  more,  they  left  their 
baggage  &  four  Horses — during  which  time  the  Americans 
came  on  them,  retook  the  negro,  plundered  the  baggage,  horses 
&c.  The  Indians  made  off  &  joined  the  others.  Went  and 
paid  a  visit  this  afternoon  to  Mrs.  Adamher — drank  Coffee 

23The  papers  captured  from  La  Balme  upon  the  destruction  of  his  force 
near  Miamitown  in  1780,  contained  a  list  of  the  French  inhabitants  of  the  place, 
including  one  Rivard.  Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  Transactions,  1909,  132. 
Rivard  is  also  mentioned  in  a  letter  from  Detioit  to  David  Gray  at  Miamitown, 
March   23,   1785.     Indiana  Mag.   of  Hist.   V,    142,    143. 

24Little  Turtle  was  born  on  Eel  River  in  1752,  and  died  at  Fort  Wayne  in 
1812.  One  of  the  ablest  leaders  the  red  race  has  produced,  he  was  an  inveterate 
foe  of  the  Americans  until  the  Treaty  of  Greenville,  of  1795.  He  bore  a  leading 
part  in  the  negotiations  over  the  treaty,  contending  stoutly  for  the  interests  of 
his  race.  Convinced  of  the  hopelessness  of  further  resistance  he  pledged  a 
religious  observance  of  the  treaty.  Until  his  death,  eighteen  years  later,  this 
promise  was  kept,  and  Little  Turtle  was  a  firm  friend  of  the  whites.  His  great- 
est military  exploit  was  the  destruction  of  St.  Clair's  army  in  1791  by  the  war- 
riors under  his  command.  He  opposed  making  a  fight  against  Wayne  in  1794, 
and  consequently  the  leadership  of  the  red  men  in  the  battle  of  Fallen  Timbers 
passed  to  his  kinsman,    Blue   Jacket. 


310  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

with  her.  She  showed  me  a  further  mark  of  her  Politeness  & 
attention,  by  telling  me  as  it  was  very  difficult  to  get  cloaths  & 
Linnen  washed  at  this  place,  begged  I  would  send  her  mine 
that  her  Ponnie  wench  should  wash  them.25 

20th.  Little  rain  &  snow  last  night  which  has  made  it  very 
slippery.  Rather  a  darking  day.  Saw  this  day  the  Rifle  Horn 
&  Pouche  Bagg  belonging  to  the  American  that  was  murdered 
by  the  Indians.  It  seems  that  he  was  rather  an  elderly  man  & 
very  tall — had  some  money  both  Silver  &  Paper  of  Virginia.  I 
find  that  this  man  was  immediately  killed  after  he  was  taken 
by  one  of  the  party  who  struck  him  twice  or  thrice  in  the  back 
an  side,  in  consequence  he  said  of  having  some  of  his  own 
relations  killed  lately.  This  is  their  way  of  retaliating;  the 
young  fellow  that  had  taken  him  offered  to  hinder  the  other, 
but  could  not  he  was  in  too  great  a  passion. 

Paid  a  visit  this  morning  to  one  Mr.  Payetts26  family,  think 
nothing  of  Miss — She's  very  brown. 

Passed  an  agreeable  afternoon  &  evening  at  Mrs.  Adamhers 
in  company  with  Mrs.  &  Miss  Rivare  &  Mrs.  Ranjard ;  I  played 
the  flute  and  sang.  Mr.  Kinzie27  the  fiddle,  &  all  the  ladies 
except  two  sang  also,  Mrs.  Ranjard  has  a  fine  voice.  We 
drank  tea  &  coffee  about  Yz  past  4  o'clock  &  a  light  supper 

25 A  pani  (panis,  pawnee,  paunee,  etc.)  was  a  slave  of  the  Indian  race.  This 
designation  was  due  to  the  fact  that  most  of  the  Indian  slaves  belonging  to  the 
Algonquian  and  other  Indians  of  the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Middle  West  were 
procured    from   the    Pawnee   tribe.      Handbook   of  American   Indians. 

26Possibly  the  same  person  who  La  Balme's  list  of  the  inhabitants  of  Miami- 
town  in    1780   designates  as   Paillet. 

27This  was  John  Kinzie  who  has  acquired  posthumous  fame  as  the  reputed 
"father"  of  Chicago.  For  a  sketch  of  his  career,  see  M.  M.  Quaife,  Chicago  and 
the  Old  Northwest  (Chicago,  1913).  145-5-2-  When  Harmar's  force  destroyed 
Miamitown  the  summer  following  Hay's  sojourn  there,  Kinzie  apparently  re- 
tired, with  others  of  the  traders  to  Grand  Glaize.  The  captive,  Spencer,  speaks 
of  his  house  here  in  1792,  and  describes  Kinzie  as  "a  Scot,  who,  in  addition  to 
merchandyzing,    followed    the    occupation    of    a    silversmith,    exchanging    with    the 


Fort   Wayne    in    1790  311 

about  9  o'clock  and  then  broke  up.  The  French  settlers  of 
this  place  go  to  prayers  of  a  Sunday,  morning  &  evening,  at 
one  Mr.  Barthelmis28  which  is  performed  by  Mr.  Payee;  the 
people  are  collected  by  the  Ringing  of  three  cow  bells,  which 
three  boys  runs  about  with  thro'  the  village,  which  makes  as 
much  noise  as  twenty  cows  would.  I  went  this  afternoon  to 
their  prayers  it  being  Sunday.     A  little  snow  this  evening. 

I  forgot  to  mention  the  19th  inst.  that  on  the  arrival  of  the 
warriors  the  other  side  of  the  river,  the  Gree30  ordered  a 
Pirogue  (which  happened  to  be  just  arrived  from  the  forks  of 
the  river  with  wood)  to  be  unloaded  by  some  of  the  french 
lads  who  stood  on  the  bank,  and  sent  one  of  them  over  with  it ; 
on  their  arrival  he  Billetted  them  like  Soldiers  so  many  in 
each  House  according  to  the  bigness  of  it,  and  took  care  to 
trouble  the  families  as  little  as  possible — we  had  six ; — This  he 

Indian  his  brooches,  ear-drops,  and  other  silver  ornaments,  at  an  enormous  profit, 
for  skins  and  furs."  Spencer,  op.  cit.,  30.  Kinzie  later  established  himself  at 
Pare  aux  Vaches  on  the  St.  Joseph  River,  near  the  forks  of  the  Chicago-Detroit 
and  the  Chicago-Fort  Wayne  Indian  trails.  In  the  spring  of  1804  he  removed 
to  Chicago,  where  Fort  Dearborn  had  been  constructed  the  previous  summer. 
Except  for  the  four  years  from  18 12  to  18 16,  this  was  his  home  until  his  death 
in    1828. 

280ne  of  the  oldest  inhabitants  of  Miamitown.  His  name  is  included  in  the 
"census"  of  Indiana  of  1769,  and  also  in  La  Balme's  list  of  the  inhabitants  of 
Miamitown  in  1780.  See  Illinois  State  Historical  Society,  Trans.,  1909,  132; 
Indiana  Historical   Society,  Publications,   II,   439,  440. 

29Probably  the  priest,  Louis  Payet,  who  was  born  at  Montreal  in  1749,  and 
came  to  Detroit  in  1781.  He  made  trips  to  the  missions  at  Vincennes,  Cahokia, 
and  other  outlying  points.      See    Wis.  Hist.   Colls.,  XVIII,  493. 

30Le  Gris  was  the  French  nick-name  of  the  Miami  chief  Na-ka-kwan-ga,  or 
Crippled  Ankles.  The  name  appears  as  Nah-goh-quan-goh  in  the  treaty  of  Green- 
ville, and  Naquakouande  in  a  speech  of  1773.  (Mich.  Pion.  Colls.,  Vol.  19,  p.  310). 
Antoine  Gamelin,  who  visited  Miamitown  in  April,  1790,  on  an  embassy  for  the 
Americans,  speaks  of  him  as  "the  great  chief  of  the  Miamis."  American  State 
Papers,  Indian  Affairs  (Washington,  1832-61),  I,  94.  His  importance  among  the 
Miami  is  sufficiently  evident  from  the  following  pages.  He  was  prominent  in  the 
warfare  with  the  Americans  which  closed  with  Wayne's  victory  of  Fallen  Tim- 
bers, and  in  the   negotiation  of  the  Treaty  of  Greenville  the   following  year. 


312  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

ordered  in  a  very  polite  manner,  but  quite  like  a  general  or  a 
commandant. 

2 1  st.  Monday.  The  weather  rather  mild  and  foggy — much 
inclined  towards  rain.  This  morning  Mr.  Leith  told  me  the 
Gree  was  going  off  immediately  after  breakfast  with  his  peo- 
ple a  hunting — &  that  this  hunt  was  to  bring  in  meat  for  me, 
and  that  consequently  I  should  be  under  the  necessity  of  giving 
him  a  small  two  gallon  keg — which  I  did ;  as  rum  is  very  dear 
at  this  place  no  less  than  40/  a  gallon.  I  borrowed  it  to  be 
returned  at  Detroit.  The  reason  I  gave  them  the  rum  now  is, 
that  they  may  not  drink  it  about  the  village ;  it  being  against 
Major  Murray's31  positive  orders  to  give  Indians  rum  at  this 
place  or  sell  &c,  And  as  I'm  for  supporting  those  orders  as 
much  as  lay  in  my  little  power  was  my  particular  reason  for 
giving  it  to  them  at  present ;  for  they  no  doubt  will  not  expect 
anymore — If  they  do  I  must  say  they  shall  not  get  it  from  me, 
— not  only  to  prevent  quarrels  which  might  happen  in  the  vil- 
lage if  they  got  drunk  and  also  supporting  the  Major's  orders, 
but  its  an  expense  to  myself  which  I  shall  not  be  able  to  sup- 
port. Capt.  Johnny  Shawnee  Chief32  arrived  yesterday  morn- 
ing; from  his  village  according  to  the  message  we  sent  him 
by  an  Indian  woman  which  we  met  on  our  way  here,  the  day 
before  we  arrived.  The  Gree  introduced  me  yesterday  to  his 
Son,  my  brother  and  old  play  fellow  as  he  called  him.  And 
this  morning  when  a[t]  breakfast  after  I  had  given  him  the 
rum,  he  &  his  wife  both  directed  me  to  look  at  my  brother  what 
a  dirty  fellow  he  was. — He  also  introduced  me  to  his  grand 

3iMajor  Patrick  Murray,  Sixtieth  Regiment,  British  commander  at  Detroit  at 
this  time. 

32Captain  Johnny  was  a  Shawnee  chief  of  some  importance.  A  number  of 
his  speeches  are  preserved  in  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  XX,  385,  519;  XXIV,  597, 
598;   XXV,  242-44,   690-92. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  313 

daughter  who  had  formerly  made  me  some  small  Indian  Pres- 
ent, which  I  had  repaid  with  rings — his  own  and  only  daughter 
died  some  years  ago,  whom  he  said  had  been  my  very  great 
friend. 

I  was  shown  this  morning  the  Heart  of  the  white  Prisoner  I 
mentioned  the  Indians  had  killed  some  time  ago  in  the  Indian 
Country — it  was  quite  drye,  like  a  piece  of  dryed  venison,  with 
a  small  stick  run  from  one  end  of  it  to  the  other  &  fastened 
behind  the  fellows  bundle  that  killed  him,  with  also  his  Scalp. 

Another  party  of  the  Miamies  and  one  Shawanie  came  in 
from  war  This  day  with  one  scalp  the[y]  danced  over  the 
River,  one  with  a  stick  in  his  hand  &  scalp  flying ;  it  being 
their  custom. — Some  of  the  warriors  came  over  in  the  evening, 
to  our  House.  It  was  rather  a  dirty  morning;  it  thawed  very 
much ;  we  had  a  little  rain — however  it  turned  out  a  pretty 
clear  afternoon. 

22nd.  Tuesday.  Very  fine  beautiful  morning.  Froze  very 
hard  visited  Mrs.  Adamher  this  afternoon 

23  Wednesday.  Very  fine  morning  more  like  Spring  than 
fall  weather,  grass  quite  green — not  the  least  frost  last  night — 
I  never  observed  'till  this  morning  that  a  Man  may  easily  walk 
over  this  River  it  being  very  shallow.  Very  few  Indians  here 
at  present — most  of  them  are  gone  a  hunting.  There  are  two 
Villages  at  this  place  one  on  this  side  the  River  &  one  on  the 
other — the  former  belongs  to  the  Gree — the  other  to  Paccan33 
who's  now  in  Illinois,  but  in  his  absence  is  Commanded  by  his 

33Pacan  was  for  many  years  head  chief  of  the  Miami.  As  a  young  man,  in 
1764,  he  rescued  Captain  Thomas  Morris  from  impending  torture  at  Miami- 
town.  See  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  XVIII,  366,  367;  Thomas  Morris,  Miscellanies  in 
Prose  and  Verse  (London,  179O,  22,  23.  For  a  stirring  speech  of  Paean's  in 
behalf  of  the  English,  in  1781,  see  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  XIX,  595,  596.  To  a 
speech  to  Sir  Wm.  Johnson,  in  1773,  is  attached  the  name  "Pakane  Junr.,"  who  is 
probably  the   man   who   signed   the   Miami   Treaty   of    1809. 


314  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

nephew  one  Mr.  Jean  Baptist  Richerville,  son  to  one  Mr. 
Richerville  of  Three  Rivers  in  Cannada  by  an  Indian  woman — 
This  young  man  is  a  Trader  here — his  Father  has  wrote  for 
him  to  go  to  him  which  he  means  [to  do]  next  Spring.  His 
mother  is  now  gone  into  the  Indian  Country  (dans  les  Terre  as 
the  freneh  term  it)  to  trade ;  She  lives  with  him  when  she's 
here — the  young  man  is  so  very  bashful  that  he  never  speaks 
in  council,  his  mother  who  is  very  clever  is  obliged  to  do  it 
for  him.34 

This  evening  the  Gree's  Brother  arrived  from  his  hunting 
Ground — his  name  is  the  Deer.  He  formerly  was  great  Chief 
of  this  Village  but  chose  to  give  it  up  to  his  Brother — he's  very 
clever — his  Brother  never  does  anything  without  consulting 
him. — Capt.  Johnny  left  this  place  this  morning  for  his  Village. 

24th.  Thursday.  Very  fine  day — but  cold — froze  hard  last 
night.  Several  Potewatomies  arrived  here  this  afternoon  with 
skins,  meat  &c.  Visited  Mrs.  Adamher  was  pleased  to  desire 
I  should  send  her  any  linnen  or  any  thing  else  that  I  may 
want  to  mend.  She  asked  me  to  go  with  her  to  the  midnight 
mass — and  also  asked  me  if  I  would  play  the  flute  which  I  did. 
Mr.  Kinzie  &  myself  went  to  Mrs.  Adamhers  about  11  o'clock 
— he  brought  his  fiddle  with  him — we  found  a  freneh  man 
there  who  played  with  us. 

25th.  Came  home  this  morning  about  two  o'clock  from 
mass ;  Mr.  Kinzie  &  myself  called  first  at  Mrs.  Adamhers  on 

34Richardville,  or  'Peshewah"  (Pin-ji-wa — The  Wildcat)  was  born  near 
Miamitown  about  the  year  1761,  and  died  at  Fort  Wayne  in  August,  1841.  His 
later  career  indicates  that  he  bravely  overcame  the  bashfulness  of  which  Hay 
speaks.  From  the  death  of  Little  Turtle  in  1812  until  his  own  death  in  1841, 
Richardville  was  head  chief  of  the  Miami.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was 
accounted  the  richest  Indian  in  North  America,  his  weaith  being  estimated  at 
half  a  million  to  a  million  dollars.  See  Handbook  of  American  Indians;  Knapp, 
History   of  Maumee    Valley,    361-64. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  315 

our  return  home,  who  gave  us  some  venizon  stake  and  roasted 
rackoon — Played  the  flute  &  Kinzie  the  fiddle  with  the  french 
man  this  Morning  at  Mass ;  being  a  particular  desire  of  the 
Peoples.  We  left  our  instruments  at  the  House  w[h]ere 
prayer  is  said.  I  cannot  say  much  indeed  for  the  Trade  of  this 
Place  their's  but  few  skins  comes  in,  and  almost  every  individ- 
ual (except  the  engages)  is  an  Indian  trader,  everyone  tries  to 
get  what  he  can  either  by  fowle  play  or  otherwise — that  is  by 
traducing  one  another's  characters  and  merchandise.  For  in- 
stance by  saying  such  a  one  has  no  Blankets  another  no 
strowde  or  is  damned  bad  or  he'll  cheat  you  &  so  on — in 
short  I  cannot  term  it  in  a  better  manner  than  calling  it  a 
Rascally  Scrambling  Trade  &c  &c. 

Somehow  or  other  I  lost  a  Silk  Pocket  Handkerchief  this 
morning  coming  home — which  I  never  expect  to  see — and  my 
Brother  Johnnys35  fine  travelling  knife  stole  last  night,  which 
I  also  give  for  lost. 

Very  hard  frost  last  night,  a  great  deal  of  ice  floating  down 
the  river  this  morning,  there  was  also  a  small  Boredage  indeed 
one  place  so  wide  and  strong  that  several  boys  were  sliding 
upon  it,  however  its  not  extraordinary  quite  the  contrary — for 
the  fine  weather  we  have  had  here  ever  since  our  arrival  & 
which  still  continues  is  very  much  so  &  what  I  have  never  yet 
seen  in  this  Country — however  at  this  moment  (1  o'clock)  it 
has  much  the  appearance  of  Snow  which  is  much  wanted  for 
the  Indians  hunts — for  deer  and  rakoon. 

Play  again  this  afternoon  at  Vespars. 

3ojohn  Hay  became  later  a  prominent  citizen  of  Cahokia,  Illinois.  R.  G. 
Thwaites  and  L.  P.  Kellogg,  Revolution  on  the  Upper  Ohio  (Madison,  1908), 
130. 


316  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

26th.  Got  infernally  drunk  last  night  with  Mr.  Abbott36 
and  Mr.  Kinzie — Mr.  A. — gave  me  his  daughter  Betsy  over 
the  bottle.  Damnation  sick  this  morning  in  consequence  of 
last  night's  debashe — eat  no  breakfast — 'Kinzie  &  myself  went 
to  mass  and  played  as  usual. — Mrs.  Ranjard  gave  us  a  cup  of 
coffee  before  mass  to  settle  our  heads. 

Very  little  frost  last  night — a  very  mild  day — but  rainy  and 
disagreeable — and  muddy  in  the  bargain — very  little  ice  float- 
ing this  morning. 

Mrs.  Grie  having  made  us  a  present  of  a  very  large  Turkey 
Cock  weighing  about  30  pounds,  we  proposed  having  a  Dinner 
among  us  Englishmen  here. 

Mr.  Abbott  fetched  some  Maderia  &  Mr.  Kinze  a  Piece  of 
fine  newly  corned  pork — upon  which  we  made  a  most  excel- 
lent dinner  at  J4  past  3  o'clock  after  Kinzie  &  I  had  played  at 
Vespers  as  usual — 

After  K —  and  I  went  to  see  Miss  Rivarre  &  found  the  miss 
Adamhers  there,  the  old  people  were  out  of  the  way. 

George   Girty37   arrived  here   this   day   from   his  wintering 

36james  Abbott  was  born  in  Dublin  in  1725.  On  coming  to  America  he  first 
settled  in  Albany,  removing  to  Detroit  about  the  year  1763.  He  engaged  exten- 
sively in  the  fur  trade,  conducting  operations  at  Mackinac,  Green  Bay,  Prairie  du 
Chien,  Fort  Wayne,  Ouiatanon,  and  Vincennes.  He  was  the  father  of  Robert 
and  James  Abbott,  leading  citizens  of  Detroit  in  the  first  half  of  the  nineteenth 
century,  and  of  Samuel  Abbott  of  Mackinac.  James  Abbott  Jr.  married  Sarah 
Whistler  at  Fort  Dearborn  in  the  spring  of  1804,  thus  furnishing  the  first 
recorded  marriage  at  Chicago.  Elizabeth  Abbott,  the  "daughter  Betsey"  of  the 
diarist,  was  born  at  Detroit  in  1777,  married  James  Baby,  and  died  at  Sandwich 
in  181 2.  See  P.  Casgrain,  Memorial  des  Families  Casgrain,  Baby  et  Perrault  du 
Canada   (Quebec,  1898),  app.  G. 

37George  Girty  was  the  younger  of  three  brothers — Simon,  James,  and  George 
— who  for  a  full  generation  were  objects  of  loathing  and  terror  along  the  Ameri- 
can frontier.  Natives  of  Pennsylvania,  the  brothers  were  captured,  along  with 
the  other  members  of  the  family,  by  an  Indian  raiding  party  in  the  summer  of 
1756.  Reared  by  the  Indians,  George  Girty  married  among  them,  and  became  prac- 
tically an  Indian  himself.  He  died  near  Fort  Wayne,  Indiana,  shortly  before  the 
outbreak  of  the  War  of  181 2.  See  C.  W.  Butterfield,  History  of  the  Girty s 
(Cincinnati,   1890). 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  317 

ground  which  is  only  four  miles  from  here — its  called  the  Dela- 
ware Town — he  desired  I  should  write  in  to  Capt.  McKee38 
by  the  first  opportunity  to  acquaint  him  that  in  consequence  of 
the  Miami  Indians  upbraiding  the  Delawares  with  telling  them 
that  the  Ground  they  occupied  now  is  not  theirs  and  that  upon 
which  the  Delawares  answered,  they  were  great  fools  to  fight 
for  lands  that  was  not  theirs  and  consequently  would  not  go 
to  war  against  the  Americans  any  more ;  but  that  they  will  for 
a  certainty  leave  the  Country  and  go  down  to  the  Spaniards 
and  put  themselves  under  the  protection  of  that  Government. 
That  he  had  already  sent  word  in  some  time  ago  that  they  were 
talking  of  going  which  he  hardly  believed  at  that  time — but  at 
present  can  safely  say  that  there  is  not  the  least  doubt  of  it. — 
Begs  at  same  time  that  Capt.  McKee  may  not  make  mention 
that  this  Intelligence  came  thro'  him — and  that  if  Capt.  McKee 
would  Immediately  send  in  a  String  of  wampum  to  hinder 
them  from  taking  such  a  step  it  would  no  doubt  immediately 
stop  them.     Turned  out  a  pretty  good  afternoon. 

27th.  Sunday.  Kinzie  &  myself  were  invited  to  sup  with 
a  Mr.  Barthelmie  (the  man  of  the  house  w  [hi ere  prayer  is 
said)  last  night,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adamher — Mr.  de  San- 
laren39  a  french  gentleman  a  Trader  at  this  place  who  formerly 

38Alexander  McKee,  like  the  Girtys,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  sided 
with  the  British  in  the  Revolutionary  War.  He  became  an  agent  in  the  British 
Indian  Department,  where  his  influence  over  the  natives,  which  he  employed  to 
incite  them  against  the  Americans,  made  his  name  one  of  sinister  omen  to  the 
frontiersmen  until  the  close  of  the  Indian  wars  in  1795.  For  a  sketch  of  McKee, 
see  Wis.  Hist.  Colls.,  XVIII,  434- 

39Probably  Celoron,  one  of  the  sons  of  Pierre  Joseph  Celoron,  formerly 
commandant  at  Detroit.  During  the  Hamilton-Clark  campaign  on  the  Wabash, 
Celoron  was  sent  by  Hamilton  to  take  command  at  Ouiatanon,  a  short  distance 
below  the  modern  Lafayette,  Indiana.  Clark  sent  a  detachment  to  capture  him, 
whereupon  Celoron  beat  a  hasty  retreat  up  the  Wabash.  He  met  Hamilton's 
army  at  the  mouth  of  the  Maumee,  en  route  to  capture  Vincennes;  Celoron  here 
so  conducted  himself  that  Hamilton  later  charged  him  with  treachery.  See 
Thwaites  and  Kellogg,  Frontier  Defense  on  the  Upper  Ohio  (Madison,  1912), 
281;  Illinois  Historical  Collections,  VII,    130,   179. 


318  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

was  an  Officer  in  the  french  Service  before  the  taking  of 
Canada  &c.  &c.  and  Mr.  Baptist  Lassell — we  had  a  roasted 
Turkey  and  to  my  great  surprise  and  indeed  every  one  else  we 
had  a  roasted  Loine  of  Veal — a  kind  of  wilde  sallad  which 
they  have  here  all  winter  on  the  other  side  of  the  River  which 
was  very  good  &  also  some  very  [good]  cocombers  pickels 
cheese  &c.  Grogg  the  only  drink. — everything  served  up  in 
the  french  Stile — The  miss  Adamhers  came  and  joined  us  after 
supper  from  Mr.  Rivarres.  Gentlemen  &  Ladies  every  one 
sung  a  song — after  which  I  proposed  walking  a  minuet  with 
Mrs.  Adamher  which  was  accepted  of  &  followed  by  a  Smart 
Gigg  Kinzie  the  fiddler.  Then  »K.  &  Miss  Adamher  relieved 
us  &  play  the  Piper  &  So  on — until  about  11  or  12  o'clock 
when  it  was  proposed  on  cachet,  by  Mrs.  Adamher  to  give 
Kinzie  a  bouquet  as  it  was  the  Eve  of  St.  John — his  name 
being  John  which  was  done  in  the  French  Stile — a  man  was 
posted  at  the  door  with  a  loaded  gun  ready  to  fire  when 
ordered. — Mr.  Adamher  carried  the  bouquet  on  a  plate  which 
was  made  in  this  manner  viz :  A  large  cake  with  a  stick  in 
the  center  and  some  blue  ribbon  tied  about  it  and  three  charges 
of  powder  and  ball  on  the  plate  also.  I  proceeded  in  front  of 
Mr.  Adamher  playing  the  freemasons  March  (Come  let  us 
prepare)  Mr.  K.  being  a  freemason  &  just  as  Mr.  Ad — deliv- 
ered him  the  bouquet  with  the  Common  compliment  upon  such 
an  occasion,  I  immediately  stepped  forward  opened  the  door 
and  gave  the  word  fire  which  was  done,  I  then  took  the  three 
charges  of  Powder  &  Ball  of  [f]  the  Plate  and  thro'  them  into 
the  fire  successively,  which  made  three  very  good  explosions 
— Kinzie  got  very  drunk  and  so  did  every  one  except  myself 
— K.  was  obliged  to  sleep  at  Mr.  Adamhers — was  too  drunk  to 
go  any  further — so  much  for  last  nights  business. 


Fort    Wayne   in    1790  319 

Rained  all  last  night  and  continued  so  to  do — a  very  great 
fogg  this  morning — the  weather  very  mild,  in  short  the  most 
unaccountable  weather  I  have  ever  yet  experienced  at  this  time 
of  the  year — if  it  continues  the  Fur  Trade  will  be  very  bad  this 
year  and  no  doubt  its  impossible  for  the  Indians  to  hunt  in  this 
kind  of  weather ;  they  may  get  a  few  Rackoon,  Otter  &  beaver 
with  Traps.  They  only  kill  a  few  deer  &  Bears  in  this  wett 
weather  particularly  Bears — but  not  equal  to  as  when  the  snow 
is  on  the  ground. 

Played  as  usual  at  mass.  Kinzie  told  me  this  morning  that 
Mr.  Abbott  requested  that  I  should  dine  with  him  to-day. — 
which  we  did  and  had  a  good  Tea  Pye  &  a  drink  of  Grogg. 

28th.  Monday.  Last  night  I  supped  sans  ceremonie  at  Mr. 
Rivarrs  about  5  o'clock. — After  which  we  repaired  to  Mr. 
Adamhers,  and  from  that  went  according  to  appointment  at 
Mr.  de  Selerons  were  we  danced  'till  about  1 1  o'clock — it  being 
St.  John's  day  &  Mr.  da  S — a  freemason,  a  bouquet  was  pre- 
sented to  him — upon  which  he  and  Mr.  Adamher  got  damned 
drunk. — Visited  the  ladies  this  morning,  also  Mr.  de  S.  who  I 
found  drinking  with  Adamher  and  some  others — did  not  stay 
long  as  they  wished  me  to  drink  at  so  unseasonable  an  hour  as 
1 1  o'clock  in  the  morning — but  promised  to  joine  the  Corum  in 
the  afternoon. 

Made  out  my  Half-Pay  certificate  this  day — was  sworn  by 
Mr.  Leith — Mr.  Ironside40  made  out  the  Bills  of  Exchange  for 
me ;  So  that  every  thing  is  now  ready  to  send  to  Mr.  Robertson 

40George  Ironside,  at  this  time  a  leading  trader  of  the  Maumee  Valley,  was 
born  in  1760,  and  died  at  Amherstburg  in  1830.  For  many  years  he  was  in  the 
British  Indian  service.  He  was  an  M.  A.  of  King's  College,  Aberdeen.  In  1792 
he  had  a  house  at  Grand  Glaize.  O.  H.  Spencer,  whom  Ironside  befriended 
during  the  former's  captivity  there,  speaks  highly  of  his  humanity  and  hospitality. 
See  Spencer,  op.   cit.;  Mich.  Pion.   &  Hist.   Colls.,  XVI,  737. 


320  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

at  Detroit  by  the  first  opportunity.  [Page  missing.]  time;  but 
having  eat  a  good  dinner  upon  a  young  wild  Turkey  with  a 
couple  of  glasses  of  Port  Wine,  drove  it  off  immediately.  This 
evening  about  five  the  Gree  &  his  Brother  in  Law,  the  Little 
Turtle  arrived  from  their  wintering  Place ;  they  drank  tea,  also 
maderia  Grie  who  came  in  after  them  and  who  presented  us 
with  a  couple  of  Turkeys — The  Grie  told  me  his  young  men 
would  be  in  in  a  few  days,  that  they  came  first  to  inform  us 
of  it. — It  being  near  the  New  Year,  and  a  common  custom 
among  them  to  flock  in  about  that  time  from  their  wintering 
places,  to  Salute,  and  of  course  expect  some  little  matter. 

30th.  Wednesday.  Bad  cough  all  night — the  same  today — 
Little  or  no  frost  last  night — Very  mild  day — but  cloudy  and 
Dark — very  muddy  &c. — 

The  Grie  &  Turtle  visited  us  this  morning. — Began  to  raine 
about  2  o'clock  this  afternoon  and  continued  'till  near  10  or 
11  o'clock. 

31st.  Thursday.  Little  Snow  this  morning,  and  rather  cold 
— Very  little  or  no  frost. — The  Grie  and  Turtle  Breakfasted 
with  us  this  morning. — The  sun  begins  to  Peep,  all  the  appear- 
ance of  a  fine  day. — The  day  did  not  turn  out  as  I  expected — 
it  got  cloudy  about  1  o'clock  &  a  little  Snow. — Cold.  Began 
to  freeze  about  4  o'clock  this  afternoon 

1  January  1790     Friday — 

Most  Beautiful  Sun  Shiny  day — Froze  hard  last  night.  High 
wind  &  pretty  cold  &c  &c. 

It  being  New  Year  the  Indians  who  are  in  great  number, 
more  so  indeed  than  I  could  ever  have  thought,  also  the 
Woman — came  into  the  house  in  great  numbers  by  three  o'clock 
this  morning  which  prevented  Ironside  &  me  from  Sleeping — 
one  lady  came  to  shake  hands  with  me  when  in  bed. — The 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  321 

House  was  quite  full  at  Breakfast  time — The  Grie  &  Turtle 
came  to  visit  us  &  breakfasted  with  us  as  usual. 

I  forgot  to  mention  that  last  night  about  5  o'clock  I  was  sent 
for  by  the  Grie  with  Mr.  Ironside.  When  I  went  to  him,  he 
informed  me  that  his  Son  my  Brother  as  he  calls  him,  had 
sent  me  in  something  to  eat,  which  was  a  Carcass  of  Venison 
&  four  or  five  Turkeys  which  he  begged  I  would  accept — His 
Son  could  not  come  in  on  account  of  his  rather  young  child 
being  unwell. 

The  Grie  asked  me  this  morning  for  a  bottle  of  Rum,  I  was 
rather  loath  at  first  to  give  it  him,  but  having  informed  me  it 
was  only  for  the  reception  of  myself  or  any  few  friends  that 
might  come  to  see  him — as  he  has  always  been  accustomed  to 
it,  I  told  him  that  in  case  he  should  have  it,  and  that  I  expected 
he  would  not  make  a  bad  use  of  it — He  answered  that  he  had 
more  respect  for  the  recommendation  I  had  brought  him  from 
Major  Murray  than  to  do  any  thing  of  the  kind — for  says  he 
who's  to  protect  you  from  any  insults  that  might  be  offered  to 
you  by  any  hot  headed  Indian  but  myself — and  should  I  get 
drunk — I  know  myself  not  capable  of  it. 

Visited  most  of  the  Principal  families  of  this  place  this 
morning  &  kissed  all  the  Ladies  young  and  Old — The  Grie 
did  not  keep  his  promise  with  me — he  was  rather  drunk 
towards  the  evening. 

2nd.  Jany.  Saturday.  Danced  last  night  at  Mr.  Adamhers 
— no  other  strangers  but  madam  Ranjard  &  Kinzie  &  myself — 
During  the  time  we  were  dancing  a  french  man  arrived  from 
Marie  Louisas40^  Trading  Place  about  25  Leagues  from  here — 

40|Marie  Louisa  was  the  baptismal  name  of  the  youngest  sister  of  The 
Little  Turtle.  Her  Indian  name  was  Ta-kum-wa,  or  The  Parrakeet.  Ta-kum-wa 
literally,  as  the  Shawnee  Tecumtha,  means  going  across,  or  crossing  over.  The 
parrakeet  was  very  common  in  Indiana  at  that  time,  and  the  Miamis  evidently 
gave  it  this  name   on  account  of  its  parrot  beak. 


322  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

this  M.  Louisas  is  mother  to  yo[u]n[g]  J.  Baptist  Richerville 
mentioned  in  my  Journal  some  days  ago.  He  brought  word 
that  Mr.  Antoine  Lassell  (who  is  traveling  at  a  place  called  le 
Petit  Piconne41  Six  Leagues  from  the  Ouias)42  is  made  Pris- 
oner by  the  Ouias  Indians — supposed  for  having  wrote  a  let- 
ter some  time  ago  to  Fort  Vincennes  apprehending  them  of  a 
Party  of  Indians  that  intended  to  strike  there — that  this  Party 
was  in  consequence  of  it  taken  Prisoner  by  the  Americans  at  a 
Post43 — that  Lassell  had  also  mentioned  that  one  of  the  Party 

4lAntoine  Lasselle  had  been  a  resident  of  Miamitown  for  nineteen  years  at 
the  time  this  journal  was  written.  When  General  Harmar  destroyed  the  place 
the  following  October,  Lasselle  followed  Little  Turtle's  band  to  the  new  Miami 
village  on  the  Little  Glaize.  He  was  an  active  partisan  of  the  British-Indian 
cause,  and  served,  garbed  as  an  Indian,  in  Captain  Caldwell's  company  of  Canadian 
militia  which  fought  against  Wayne  at  Fallen  Timbers.  Too  corpulent  to  keep 
pace  with  his  dusky  allies  in  their  rapid  retreat  before  the  points  of  Wayne's 
bayonets,  Lasselle  concealed  himself  under  a  log,  thinking  to  make  his  escape  after 
nightfall.  He  was  discovered,  however,  and  promptly  tried  as  a  spy.  The  story 
is  told  that,  finding  the  trial  going  against  him,  he  gave  the  Masonic  signal  of 
distress,  whereupon  Colonel  Hamtranck,  president  of  the  court-martial,  threw  his 
influence  in  his  favor,  resulting  in  a  verdict  of  acquittal.  Whatever  the  truth 
as  to  this  may  be,  Lasselle,  together  with  his  brother  Jacques,  shortly  afterward 
secretly  entered  Wayne's  employ,  and  labored  zealously  to  bring  the  Indians  to 
conclude  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Americans.  See  J.  P.  Dunn,  Indiana  (Bos- 
ton, 1888),  436—40;  W.  A.  Brice,  History  of  Fort  Wayne  (Fort  Wayne,  1868), 
app.    16,    17;   Amer.    St.   Papers,   Ind.    Affs.,    I,   494. 

42Petit  Piconne  is  an  unique  corruption  of  Ki-ta-pi-nong,  meaning  the  town 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Tippecanoe  (Ki-ta-pi-ka-na)  river.  This  is  the  name  of  the 
buffalo  fish.  At  this  time  there  was  an  important  Indian  village  here,  where 
resided  a  number  of  French  traders.  The  Ouias  was  a  village  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  old  French  post  Ouiatanon,  near  the  site  of  Lafayette,  Indiana,  Ouiatanon 
was  founded  by  the  French  after  1722;  there  had  been  no  garrison  here  since 
Pontiac's  War,  but  it  was  still  an  important  center  of  the  Indian  trade.  These 
places  were  raided  by  an  American  army  under  Gen.  Charles  Scott  in  June,  1791, 
and  again  in  August,  by  a  force  commanded  by  Gen.  James  Wilkinson.  See 
Amer.  St.  Papers,  Ind.  Affs.,  I,  131 — 33;  "Ouiatanon,"  in  Indiana  Historical 
Society,  Publications,  II,  319 — 48. 

43Vincennes.  The  post  which  the  French  established  here  in  the  first  half 
of  the  seventeenth  century  was  designated  "poste  au  Ouabache,"  or,  more  com- 
monly, simply  "au  poste."  The  early  American  settlers  transformed  this  into  "the 
Post"  or  "Opost." 


Fort    Wayne    in    1790  323 

was  Son  to  the  Indian  who  burnt  an  American  Prisoner  at  the 
Ouias  last  Summer. — The  Indians  having  understood  that  the 
Americans  meant  to  Burn  this  Indian,  is  the  reason  they  have 
fallen  upon  Lassell  and  mean  to  burn  him — his  men  are  also 
prisoners — they  will  of  course  plunder  him  &c. — I'm  sorry  for 
it  and  so  is  every  one  at  this  place — tho'  he  certainly  has 
brought  [it]  upon  himself — 

This  morning  after  Breakfast — Mr.  Adamher  Mr.  Leith  & 
myself  with  all  the  Principal  traders  of  the  place  collected  our- 
selves in  this  house  and  met  the  Grie  which  was  sent  for  for 
that  Purpose — After  he  was  made  acquainted  with  the  matter 
and  his  Advice  asked — he  answered  that  he  was  extremely 
sorry  to  hear  such  news,  and  that  he  had  always  given  his 
advice  to  the  people  here  how  they  should  act  when  they  went 
into  the  Interior  Parts  of  the  Indian  Country — but  that  the 
french  had  frequently  gone  without  letting  him  know  or  asking 
his  advice ;  And  that  particularly  Mr.  Lassell  who  altho'  he  had 
advised  not  to  go  to  that  part  of  the  country  did  absolutely  go 
without  acquainting  him  of  it — for  says  he,  had  he  mentioned 
it  to  me  I  should  have  sent  one  of  my  Chiefs  with  him,  or 
given  him  a  belt,  as  a  Guard  and  which  would  have  prevented 
any  thing  of  this  kind  happening — However  says  [he]  no  time 
is  to  be  lost  as  I  am  now  immediately  going  off  to  my  winter- 
ing Camp  I  shall  detach  three  faithful  warriors  of  mine  with  a 
belt  from  me  to  inquire  into  this  matter  which  if  true  will 
effectually  put  a  stop  to  it — (if  it  has  not  already  taken  place.) 

Mr.  Dufresne  a  french  trader  who  is  concerned  in  that  part 
of  the  Country — gave  him  about  two  fathoms  of  Smoking 
Tobacco — Virmillion   Provisions   &c — Mr.   A.   Lassell   has   all 


324  Fort    Wayne    in    1790 

his  goods  from  Mr.  Baby44  which  concerns  me  much  on  his 
account  if  any  thing  should  happen. — As  Mr.  Kinzie  means  to 
go  to  Detroit  on  Monday  next  I  wrote  this  day  to  the  Major 
with  respect  to  this  affair — and  to  Capt.  McKee  with  regard 
to  the  Delewares. — 

Beautiful  Day — froze  hard  last  night — Wrote  Mr.  Robertson 
of  Detroit  this  day  inclosed  him  my  bills  of  Exchange  and 
certificates  for  my  ^4  pay    Wrote  my  brother  also. 

3  January  Sunday.  The  Grie  &  Little  Turtle  went  off  on 
horse  back  for  their  wintering  Camps,  after  breakfasting  with 
&  thanking  us  for  the  reception  they  received  from  us  during 
their  stay — I  gave  them  a  bottle  of  Rum.  For  it  must  be 
observed  that  they  have  nothing  here  to  live  upon — everything 
they  possess  &  have  is  in  the  woods ;  they  all  come  in  in  the 
Spring  to  the  amount  of  four  or  five  hundred — 

Began  to  raine  a  little  this  Evening — Not  the  least  frost  last 
night — Thaughed  all  day. 

4  Jany.  Monday.  Mr.  Kinzie  went  off  for  Detroit  at  day 
break  this  morning.  Raine  all  last  night,  which  turned  into 
Snow  towards  morning. — Very  disagreeable  dirty  day — the 
Snow  &  Raine  which  we  had  last  night  has  created  a  great 
quantity  of  mudd — wind  a  little  high  and  sky  Cloudy. — Danced 
and  Supped  at  Mr.  Adamhers,  sans  ceremonie  as  usual  last 

44The  Baby  family  had  long  been  prominent  in  Detroit  and  Canada.  The 
founder  of  the  Detroit  branch  of  the  family  was  Duperron  Baby,  who  was  born 
at  Montreal  in  1731  and  came  to  Detroit  twenty  years  later.  In  1760  he  married 
Susanne  Reaume.  He  was  the  father  of  no  less  than  twenty-two  children,  several 
of  whom  achieved  prominence.  A  natural  daughter  by  an  Indian  mother  married 
the  chief,  Blue  Jacket,  who  figures  in  Hay's  journal.  The  eldest  son,  James  Baby, 
married,  as  we  have  already  seen,  Elizabeth  Abbott.  Another  son,  Francis,  mar- 
ried Elizabeth  Abbott's  sister,  Frances.  Duperron  Baby  died  at  Detroit  in  1789. 
Whether  Hay's  allusion  is  to  him  or  to  one  of  his  sons  must  be  left  to  con- 
jecture. See  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  XV,  704-6;  Casgrain,  op.  cit.,  app.  G; 
Thwaites  and   Kellogg,  Revolution   on    Upper   Ohio,  44. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  325 

night. — Little  Snow  this  afternoon — Last  night  while  we  were 
dancing  at  Mr.  Adamhers  his  Pigg  was  stolen  out  of  the  Penn. 
— this  is  the  3d  he  has  lost  in  the  like  manner  the  last  one 
before  this  was  stolen  on  the  very  same  day  last  year. — How- 
ever this  one  turned  out  to  be  a  good  story  which  is  as  follows 
— Mr.  De  Seleron  &  two  or  three  french  men  &  Mrs.  Ranjard 
were  in  the  secret — it  was  Seleron  &  two  others  who  took  him 
away — Mr.  Leith  as  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  having  every  reason 
to  suspect  White  People  as  well  as  myself,  gave  me  a  search 
warrant  thro  the  Village  attended  by  Mr.  Ironside  &  one  La 
Chambre  a  french  man,  we  had  almost  gone  thro'  the  whole, 
when  we  came  to  Mr.  De  Selerons  were  we  found  Mr.  Adam- 
her  &  the  people  who  had  taken,  they  were  telling  him  the 
story  when  we  entered  the  House  to  Search. — we  were  imme- 
diately made  acquainted  with  it — but  stile  continued  our 
search  to  the  other  house  we  had  not  been  at,  keeping  the 
secret,  we  even  went  to  Mrs.  Adamhers — own  house  &  found 
the  Poor  woman  very  much  affected  at  it,  it  being  their  only 
support  when  the  fresh  meat  is  killed,  and  what  hurt  her 
more  was,  that  she  intended  to  kill  it  tomorrow,  and  that  the 
like  had  happened  to  her  last  year — however  about  an  hour 
after  she  was  very  agreeably  made  acquainted  with  the  joke 
and  I  never  in  my  life  saw  such  in  a  womans  countenance 
when  they  told  her  of  it — Mrs.  Adamher  is  a  woman  who  is 
amasingly  fond  of  playing  her  jokes  upon  other  people,  she's 
always  serving  some  one  or  other  a  trick ;  for  which  they  were 
fully  determined  to  play  her  this  one,  which  we  premeditated 
upwards  of  three  weeks  ago. 

After  I  had  made  my  report  to  Leith — Ironside  &  myself 
undeceived  him  about  )A>  an  hour  after  at  which  he  laughed 
very  much.     Its  a  good  joke  and  it  will  at  the  same  time  put 


326  Fort    Wayne    in    1790 

those  people  on  their  guards  who  are  apt  or  may  intend  to 
make  robberies. 

5th.  January  Tuesday.  Very  fine  day,  but  cold,  the  weather 
quite  changed. — Began  to  freeze  very  hard  about  2  or  3 
o'clock  this  morning. — Ironside  &  myself  having  mentioned 
last  night  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing  to  steal  the  Hogg  back 
again  from  those  that  stole  it  which  they  heard ;  and  mounted 
a  Guard  over  him  one  of  the  party  actually  slept  in  the  Penn 
with  it — 

This  day  about  2  o'clock  arrived  here  one  Tramblai  from 
the  Ouias — He  left  Mr.  Ant.  Lassell  very  well  at  the  Little 
Piconno  the  29th  December,  and  contradicts  everything  that 
we  heard  the  1st.  Inst,  with  respect  to  that  Gentleman,  so  far 
from  it,  that  Mr.  Lassell  writes  Mr.  Adamher  by  this  Tram- 
blai that  he  never  Traded  better  nor  easier,  that  the  Indians 
are  perfectly  quiet  in  that  part  of  the  Country — Such  a 
Damnable  lying  Report,  I  never  experienced  before  in  my  life, 
— because  in  general,  altho'  Indian  Reports  are  never  to 
believed,  there  is  always  something  similar  to  what  is  re- 
ported— but  in  this  affair  not  even  a  single  quarrell  happened 
— The  Grie  seemed  to  put  but  very  little  confidence  in  it — I 
believe  the  french  People  here  mean  to  send  an  express  imme- 
diately to  prevent  this  message  being  sent. 

6th.  January.  Wednesday.  Froze  hard  last  night — &  very 
cold  all  night.  Turned  out  quite  mild  about  10  o'clock  and 
began  to  snow  very  hard. — all  appearance  that  the  winter  is 
now  setting  in. — am  much  afraid  Kinzie  will  not  get  to  Detroit 
by  water. — After  snowing  about  a  couple  of  hours  pretty 
smartly — it  began  to  raine  &  continued  'till  10  o'clock  this 
Evening. 

7th.    January    Thursday.     It  began  to  blow  amasingly  hard 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  327 

last  night  about  11  o'clock  &  froze  very  hard. — Very  cold 
winday  day — a  great  deal  of  Ice  floating  down  the  River. — 
This  afternoon  about  3  o'clock  arrived  the  Indian  sent  to 
apprise  the  Grie  respecting  LasseH's  affairs — they  were  just 
going  to  set  out  when  he  arrived  their.  He  presented  the  Grie 
with  a  Carrott  of  Tobacco,  telling  him — here's  what  your 
Brother,  the  french  sends  you  &  desires  me  acquaint  you  with 
the  good  news  they  have  received,  &  that  you  need  not  trouble 
yourself  with  sending  your  message. 

The  three  Indians  pitched  upon  by  the  Grie — were  The  Little 
Turtle,  The  Little  Turkey  &  Le  Jollie. 

8th.  Jan'y.  Friday.  Very  fine  Sun  Shiny  day — Pretty  Cold. 
— a  great  quantity  of  Ice  floating  down  the  River — Froze  hard 
last  night. — Invited  all  the  principal  people  of  this  place  to 
play  cards  with  me  this  Evening. 

9th.  Jan'y.  Saturday.  This  is  the  coldest  day  we  have  had 
since  my  arrival.  But  very  fine  over  head — Wind  began  to 
blow  excessively  hard  about  day  break  &  continues  so  to  do. 
I  seated  for  the  first  time  yesterday  upon  a  marrai  about  ^2 
mile  at  the  back  of  the  village — this  marrai  falls  into  a  creek 
which  goes  by  the  name  of  le  Rouisso  de  Rioll.  which  falls  into 
the  Miami — This  creek  takes  its  name  from  a  Frenchman  who 
once  had  a  hutt  close  by  it. 

Supped  this  Evening  at  Mr.  Dufrennes  in  company  with 
some  of  the  Principal  French  of  this  Place  &  then  we  all  went 
and  played  cards  with  Mr.  Abbott. 

10th.  Jany.  Sunday.  A  most  excessive  cold  day,  quite  se- 
vere— but  very  fine  over  head. — River  closed  some  time  in  the 
night — Indians  walked  across  this  morning — Turned  quite 
milde  this  afternoon.  Dined  with  Mr.  Abbott,  Leith  also,  Mr. 
Ironside  being  unwell  could  not  go.     We  were  joined  in  the 


328  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

afternoon  by  Miss  Adamher,  Rivarre,  De  Seleron  &  Lassell ; 
we  drank  six  Bottles  of  wine ;  the  two  first  Gentlemen  pre- 
ferred drinking  Grogg.  It  must  be  observed  at  same  time  that 
we  three  had  already  drank  four  bottles  before  any  of  the  wine 
drinkers  came  in. — We  were  all  pretty  merry. — It  began  to 
Snow  about  9  or  10  o'clock  this  Evening. 

11  January  Monday.  A  great  quantity  of  suow  fell  this 
last  night  and  still  continues  to  fall. — Its  very  mild  at  the  same 
time.     Turned  out  fine  weather  about  4  o'clock  this  Evening. 

12  January  Tuesday.  Froze  hard  this  morning  about  day 
break — Turned  out  a  very  fine  Sun  Shiny  Day — Tramblai  re- 
turned this  day  to  Little  Piconno. — This  day  the  roofe  of  the 
House  got  on  fire — lucky  it  was  not  in  the  night  or  we  should 
all  been  burnt. 

13th.  Yesterday  about  2  o'clock  arrived  here  Mr.  Antoine 
Lassell  accompanied  by  a  french  man  &  one  Blue  Jackeltt45  a 
Shawanie  Chiefe.  He  is  come  in  consequence  of  the  report 
spread  about  him,  which  we  received  the  1st.  Instant. — He 
was  made  acquainted  of  it  by  the  following  Letter  which  he 
received  the  night  before  he  came  off  viz. 

4r»Blue  Jacket,  an  influential  Shawnee  chief,  was  born  about  the  middle  of 
the  eighteenth  century.  After  Little  Turtle,  he  was  probably  the  most  prominent 
leader  of  the  Indians  in  the  destruction  of  St.  Clair's  army  in  November,  1791. 
Since  Little  Turtle  counseled  peace  when  Wayne  appeared  on  the  Maumee  three 
years  later,  the  chief  command  in  the  battle  of  Fallen  Timbers  fell  to  Blue 
Jacket.  Defeated,  he  yielded  to  the  Americans  and  was  one  of  the  signers  of 
the  Treaty  of  Greenville  the  following  year.  According  to  the  Handbook  of 
American  Indians  he  disappears  from  sight  after  signing  the  treaty  at  Fort  Indus- 
try, 1805.  Other  accounts  represent  him  as  again  raising  the  hatchet  against  the 
Americans  in  18 12,  and  as  present  at  the  River  Raisin  massacre,  January  22, 
1813.      See  Mich.   Pion..   &  Hist.   Colls.,   XV,  6292,   693;    Casgrain,  op.   cit.,    100. 


Fort   Wayne    in    1790  329 

From  La  Riveere  a  Languielle46 

6th.    January, 

1790. 
My  Dear  Friend 

Yesterday  Evening  arrived  here  two  Indians  sent  by  the 
Grie  to  the  Ouia  to  desire  the  Indians  of  that  place  to  take  you 
Prisoner  and  take  you  to  the  Miami  Town,  saying  that  you 
had  writ  a  bad  letter  respecting  them  to  the  Americans. — It 
seems  its  one  La  Lache  a  Uuia  Indian  {half  blooded)  who  has 
reported  this  against  you  among  the  Ouia's  and  other  winter- 
ing Camps ;  That  the  Soldier47  &  The  Porcupine  two  Chiefs  of 
Riviere  a  Languile  have  "sent  the  messengers  back  to  the  Grie, 
saying  that  they  would  inform  themselves  of  the  matter — that 
as  far  as  this  they  had  not  heard  anything  of  the  matter  but 
thro  La  Lache  who  is  a  great  Rascall — The  messengers  did 
not  intend  to  stop  here,  but  having  a  letter  from  Young  Mr. 
Coco  Lassell  from  Mr.  Durfrense  was  their  Reason  for  stop- 
ing — This  letter  was  apprising  young  Coco  of  such  a  report 
being  here  which  Mr.  Dufrense  sent  by  a  Ponnie  lad  who  I 
suppose  mett  with  these  people  &  gave  it  to  them,  which  is  a 
lucky  circumstance  for  you. — The  Soldiar  &  the  Porcupine 
desired  me  to  write  you  immediately  in  case  some  rascalls 
w[h]ere  you  are  might  hear  of  it  and  use  you  ill. — They  de- 
sire me  at  the  same  time  to  tell  you  to  write  to  the  Grie  or  to 
make  the  Petite  Face  or  any  of  the  Principal  Indians  acquainted 

46Eel  River.  Logansport,  Indiana,  is  situated  at  its  junction  with  the 
Wabash.  The  Indian  town  was  strung  out  along  Eel  River  for  several  miles 
above   its    mouth. 

47"The  Soldier"  is  the  literal  translation  of  Ci-man-ka-nis-si-a,  who  was  chief 
of  the  Eel  Rivers.  The  name  is  made  Sha-me-kun-ne-sa  in  the  Treaty  of 
Greenville. 


330  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

with  it  and  desire  them  to  send  by  you  Strings  of  Wampum  to 
the  Grie  to  undeceive  him  of  this  matter. 

I  am  &c, 
Jacque  Godfroy/8 
Mr.  Lassell  could  not  bring  any  Strings  with  him  from  little 
Piconno  because  the  Chiefs  were  not  at  home,  but  he  stopped 
at  La  Riverire  a  Lanjerielle48*  from  which  place  he  has  brought 
a  string  accompanied  with  a  paper  mentioning  the  meaning  of 
it — from  the  Soldiar  &  The  Porcupine  to  the  Grie.  But  he  has 
brought  with  him  the  following  certificate,  signed  by  all  the 
french  Traders,  and  Indians  then  present  at  the  Little  Picon- 
no,  viz — 

We  citizens  of  the  little  Piconno  certify  ithat  the  bearer  An- 
toine  Lassell  is  a  good  loyalist  and  is  always  for  supporting  his 
King. 

his 
Diaum  X  Payette 

mark  Lamoureux 

X  his 
Jean  Cannehous  his 

mark  Etienne  X   Pantonne        Henri  Rainbeare 

mark 
Jacque  X  Dumay  his 

his  mark  Toop  X  Maisonville 

mark 

48Probably  Jacques  Godfroy  Sr.  He  figured  in  the  events  attending  Pon- 
tiac's  siege  of  Detroit  in  1763,  and  the  following  year  saved  the  life  of  Capt. 
Thomas  Morris.  He  was  at  Miamitown  when  Harmar  fell  upon  it  in  October, 
1790,  and  carried  to  Detroit  an  account  of  the  ensuing  battles.  The  following 
spring  his  goods,  to  the  value  of  £500  were  destroyed  by  the  American  army 
that  raided  the  Wea  villages.  See  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls.,  VIII,  283 — 85: 
XXIV,  106,    107,   166,  273;   XXXVII,  448,  453  5  Thomas  Morris,  op.   cit. 

48|Lanjerielle  is  an  evident  miscopy  of  L'Anguille,  the  French  name  of 
Eel    River. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790 


331 


his 
Lamoureus  X  fils 
mark 

his 
Jean  X  Coustan 
mark 

his 
(Little  X  Egg) 

mark 
(Ouia  Indian) 


his 
Piere  X  Clairmont 
mark 


his 
(The  X  Sirropp) 
mark 
(Peria  Indian) 


The  Two  considerable  Indians  of  the  little  Piconno  for  the 
Present. 
The  following  is  what  the  two  above  Indians  say  to  the  Grie — 

The  Grie. 


We  are  much  surprised  that  you  harken  to  the  Doggs  of  the 
Villages,,  and  if  the  above  news  were  True  we  should  send  you 
sensible  men  to  acquaint  you.  Its  La  Lache  who  is  a  bad  In- 
dian &  a  Runner  from  one  Village  to  another — He  does  not 
belong  to  our  village — we  beg  you  will  not  believe  those  bad 
Birds,  who  goes  from  one  village  to  another  creating  very  bad 
things  &  disturbances — as  the  Little  Face,  Chief  of  this  village 
of  the  little  Picanno  is  not  here ;  he  gave  us  power  to  act  in  his 
absence. 

A  True  Copy  taken  by  me  this  13th  day  of  January  1790. 

Henry  Hay. 

Very  fine  warm  day,  Rather  inclined  to  raine — 


332  Fort    Wayne    in    1790 

This  day  Mr.  Lassell  sent  of  [f]  a  messenger  to  the  Grie  de- 
siring his  presence  at  this  place  immediately.  This  has  been  a 
very  curious  matter  altogether — However  Mr.  Leith  and  my- 
self are  of  opinion  that  one  Persons  name  has  been  taken  for 
the  other.  There  is  one  Fouche  a  french  man,  who  has  no 
doubt  acted  exactly  in  this  manner  as  Mr.  Lassell  was  Repre- 
sented to  us  to  have  acted,  on  the  isit.  Instance.  Mr.  Lassell 
nor  does  any  of  us  believe  that  The  Grie  had  anything  to  do 
with  it,  quite  the  contrarie,  we  are  of  opinion  its  some  other 
Indians  who  has  an  antipathy  against  Mr.  Lassell  &  who 
changed  the  name  of  Fouche  to  his,  purposily  to  hurt  him,  and 
that  those  Indians  made  use  of  the  Gries  name -in  hopes  of 
carrying  on  the  matter  to  their  wish. 

A  great  thaugh  this  day — 

14th.  Thursday.  Very  fine  day — a  little  frost  last  night ; 
In  consequence  of  the  great  thaugh  we  had  yesterday  the  snow 
has  melted  off  the  Ice  &  the  Water  coming  over  it  froze  so 
hard  last  night,  that  it  afforded  me  the  pleasure  of  Skating 
upon  the  River  this  morning — Turned  out  a  very  warm  beauti- 
ful day — Thaw's  a  good  deal  and  I'm  afraide  will  carry  off 
the  Ice. — Wrote  the  Major49  this  day  an  account  of  Mr.  Las- 
sells  arrival  at  this  place  and  every  thing  respecting  his  affairs 
as  mentioned  in  this  Journal  yesterday. 

15th.  Friday.  Rain'd  very  hard  most  part  of  the  night, 
Very  high  wind,  &c.  A  very  disagreeable  day — a  little  frost 
this  morning  which  makes  it  very  slippery.  I  never  experi- 
enced such  an  Evening  as  this  at  this  time  of  the  year — It  be- 
gan to  Thunder  &  Lightening  about  6  o'clock,  Then  it  began 
to  Blow  &  Raine  as  if  heaven  and  earth  was  coming  together 
which  lasted  till  about  1 1  o'clock. 

49Major   Murray,   commandant  at   Detroit. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  333 

1 6th.  Played  cards  last  night  at  Mr.  Dufrenes  in  Company 
with  all  the  principal  People  of  the  Village,  did  not  come  home 
untill  this  morning  about  4  o'clock  rather  Drunkish — Froze 
hard  about  day  breake — Rather  an  obscure  day,  not  very 
cold. — 

This  day  the  Grie  arrived  about  2  o'clock.  This  Evening 
Mrs.  Adamher  and  Mrs.  Ranjard  made  a  Bouquet  which  we 
all  Presented  to  Mr.  Dufresne  in  Honor  of  St.  Antoine,  he 
bearing  that  name — It  was  then  carried  from  that  to  Mr. 
Adamher,  Mr.  Rivarre,  Mr.  Barthelmies,  Mr.  Selerons  &  then 
back  again  to  Mr.  Dufresne  we  danced  in  each  house,  the 
Ladies  being  with  us. 

17th.  Froze  hard  last  night — Most  beautifull  day. — This 
evening  we  had  a  Dance  at  Mr.  Dufrenes  by  Mr.  Anto'n  Las- 
sells  invitation  were  all  the  Descent  Ladies  of  this  place  were 
Present. — Signified  to  the  Canadians  this  day  my  wish  for 
them  to  fire  three  Vollies  to  morrow  in  consequence  of  its  be- 
ing Her  Majesties  Birth  Day,  which  they  unanimously  assented 
to,  to  my  utmost  expectations. 

18th.  Jan'y.  Her  Majestys  Birth  Day.50  God  Bless  her— 
We  accordingly  fired  three  Vollies  as  was  proposed  yesterday. 
I  gave  them  (the  word  of  Command  myself — Posted  Mr.  Adam- 
her as  an  Officer  on  the  Right  &  Mr.  de  Seleron  on  the  left — 
Gave  the  young  fellows  a  Gallon  of  Rum — a  bottle  to  the  Grie 
at  his  own  Request — The  Snake51  &  some  of  the  Principal 
Shawanies  are  here — I  made  them  &  the  Grie  acquainted  with 
the  Reason  of  the  Rejoicing. 

oOThe  birthday  of  Queen  Charlotte  of  England  was  May  19.  I  am  unable 
to  suggest  an  explanation  of  Hay's  apparent  error  in  this  respect. 

oiThe  Snake  was  chief  of  a  band  of  Shawnee  whose  village  in  1792  was  in 
the  vicinity  of  Grand  Glaize.  O.  M.  Spencer,  who  saw  him  on  the  occasion  of  a 
visit  to  Blue  Jacket,  describes  him  as  "a  plain,  grave  chief,  of  sage  appearance." 
op.   cit.,   29. 


334  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

About  2  o'clock  this  afternoon  I  was  apprized  by  Mr.  J.  B. 
Lassell  that  the  young  Canadian  Volunteers  intended  to  come 
&  thank  me  &  give  me  a  Vollie  in  the  front  of  the  House — I 
immediately  went  home  &  they  appeared  in  about  a  %  of  an 
hour  to  my  great  surprise  with  a  Drum  &  the  fiddle  we  had  in 
the  morning;  they  were  headed  by  one  of  the  Serjeants  I 
made  in  the  morning. — After  they  had  fired  their  Volley,  they 
begged  I  would  head  them  &  march  to  the  Houses  of  Mr. 
Adamher  Mr.  Seleron  &  Mr.  Leith  to  pay  them  the  same  com- 
pliment which  I  did. — I  proposed  to  Mr.  Leith  that  he  and  I 
should  give  dance  this  Evening  which  he  assented  to,  conse- 
quently Mr.  Ironside  &  myself  immediately  went  round  to  all 
the  Ladies  &  Gentlemen  of  the  place  and  invited  them. 

19th  Sunday.  I  never  enjoyed  myself  at  a  Dance  better 
than  I  did  last  night.  The  Gentlemen  &  Ladies  all  appeared 
dressed  in  their  best  bibs  &  Tuckers,  &  behaved  very  descently 
not  one  of  the  men  the  least  in  Liquor,  &  which  is  mostly  the 
case  in  this  place  when  they  collect  together — As  Mr.  Leith 
never  walks  a  minuet  I  opened  the  Ball  wiith  Mr.  Adamher — 
When  Mrs.  A. — entered  the  room  I  desired  the  fiddler  to 
play,  God  save  the  King.  I  made  Tangrie  for  the  Ladies,  and 
Grogg  for  the  Gentlemen.  Between,  10  &  11  o'clock  we  gave 
them  Coffee,  which  Mrs.  Adamher  was  so  good  as  to  make 
for  us. — We  danced  some  Dance  Ronby,  one  particularly  a  very 
curious  one — It  was  sung  by  Mrs.  Rangard,  the  chorus  was 
rather  Bawdie — ithat  is  a  good  double  intendre  which  was — 
Avee  sons  grand  viesous  viesous,  avec  sons  grandpasse  par- 
tous — at  the  end  of  the  first  chorus ;  the  plant  a  foot,  the  2d 
two  feet — the  3d  a  knee  the  4  both  knees,  5th  and  elbow,  6th 
bothe,  7th  your  head  and  8th  your  bomb — so  that  the  last  sum- 
mons the  whole  up — your  right  foot  plant,  then  left,  1  knee,  2d 
knee,  1  elbow,  2d  elbow,  your  head  &  your  bombe. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  335 

As  this  is  three  nights  now  that  I  have  danced,  I  find  myself 
very  tired  this  morning,  my  feet  much  swelled — And  what  with 
dancing,  catching  cold  &  given  the  word  of  Command  yester- 
day I  am  quite  hoarse. — I  forgot  to  mention  that  yesterday  was 
rather  a  disagreeable  day — very  muddy,  misty,  &  now  &  then 
a  little  raine — began  to  Snow  last  night  about  11  o'clock. — 
This  is  a  very  mild  day. — Rather  cloudy  &  Thick. — Mr.  Lassell 
sett  off  this  morning  for  Little  Piconno,  The  Grie  &  Blue 
Jackett  also  for  their  different  wintering  Camps. 

One  Robidos  a  french  man  which  Mr.  Lassell  sends  express 
to  Detroit,  is  likewise  sett  off  this  day. 

Mr.  Adamher  &  Mr.  De  Seleron  made  their  appearance  at 
the  Ball  with  very  fine  fur  caps  on  their  heads,  adorned  with 
a  quantity  of  Black  Ostridge  Feathers — Cockades  made  with 
white  tinsell  Ribbon,  amasingly  large — As  their  was  a  great 
deal  of  Mudd — Mrs.  Payette  who  is  an  extraordinary  large 
woman  was  sent  for  in  a  Carte,  accompanied  by  her  Husband 
&  Daughter — Began  to  Snow  again  about  10  o'clock. —  &  Con- 
tinued till  the  evening.  Spent  this  Evening  at  Mrs.  Cicotts  in 
Company  with  Mrs.  and  Miss  Payette. 

20th  Wednesday.  Began  to  blow  excessively  hard  last  night 
about  11  or  12  o'clock — froze  very  hard;  this  is  the  coldest  day 
we  have  had  yett.  Payed  a  few  visits  this  morning  and  Dined 
sans  ceremonie,  with  Mr.  Dufresne. — Went  and  drank  coffee 
about  4  o'clock  this  afternoon  with  Mrs.  Adamher ;  The  cold 
seem  to  increase  as  the  sun  setts. 

21  Thursday.  Froze  very  hard  &  excessively  cold  all  night. 
— Something  milder  this  morning — The  Suns  out  which  makes 
the  weather  very  fine  over  head. — It  became  rather  cloudy  & 
thick  about  10  o'clock,  &  in  the  Evening  a  very  large  ring 
round  the  moon — however  about  8  o'clock   it  cleared  up   & 


336  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

began  to  freeze  pretty  smart  but  not  so  cold  as  yesterday-night. 

22  Friday.  Very  fine  day,  not  the  least  cold.  It  Thaws  a 
good  deal. — Young  Mr.  Lassell  caught  a  Rabbit  this  morning 
in  one  of  the  snares  he  had  laide  for  the  purpose. 

Several  Putewatomies  arrived  this  afternoon  with  Peltry  & 
a  great  quantity  of  meat — viz.  Venison,  Rackoons,  Porcupine, 
Bare  &  Turkeys  &c.  the  most  of  which  Mr.  Abbott  bought ; 
the  Blanket  its  what  the  Indians  want  most  at  present  &  no 
one  else  except  Mr.  Dufresne  has  any  at  this  Post  but  Mr. 
Abbott. — Beautiful  Evening,  not  the  least  cold. 

23  Saturday.  Most  beautifull  day,  quite  warme — Seated 
about  y*  an  hour  this  morning  on  the  River.  Thaws  a  good 
deal  which  will  soon  carry  off  what  little  snow  we  have  on  the 
ground. 

The  Grie  &  Son  arrived  this  afternoon  from  his  wintering 
camps — He  immediately  sent  for  Mr.  Ironside  &  me ;  when  we 
went  to  him,  he  addressed  himself  to  me — Son  says  he,  here  is 
my  Son  your  Brother  who  has  brought  you  a  little  meat  to 
make  you  some  broth  which  he  beggs  you  will  accept,  I  should 
not  says  he  have  come  myself,  but  my  Son  who  is  very  bashfull 
asked  me  to  come  with  him. 

24th  Sunday.  Very  fine  day,  quite  warm  but  dirty  under 
foot  owing  to  the  great  thawings. 

We  played  cards  &  supped  at  Mr.  Adamhers  last  night,  there 
was  a  good  many  Gentlemen  their.  The  Gries  Son's  present 
consisted  of  four  Turkeys,  two  leggs  and  two  sides  of  Venison 
exceedingly  fatt.  Sent  a  Turkey  in  a  present  to  Mrs.  Adamher 
— The  Grie  &  Son  breakfasted  with  us  this  morning  according 
to  invitation. 

2$th  Monday.  Very  fine  day — Froze  hard  last  night.  Spent 
the  last  Evening  at  Mrs.  Scicotts — Mrs.   Payett  &  Daughter 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  2>Z7 

were  their — Mr.  B.  Lassell,  Francis  Lassell52  &  Mr.  J.  B. 
Richerville  &  myself  went  together — the  fiddler  came  in  about 
7  o'clock  and  we  danced  'till  about  l/2  past  9  o'clock,  then  we 
broke  up — took  Mrs.  Payett  home  &  played  her  the  Cuckold 
March.  Frome  that  we  adjourned  to  Mr.  J.  B.  Lassells  with 
the  fiddler,  w[h]ere  we  drank  Grogg,  &  from  that  we  went 
and  Serenaded  the  young  girls  &  women  of  the  Village. 

Turned  out  cloudy  &  Gloomy  about  12  o'clock  and  con- 
tinued so  'till  the  Evening  &  most  part  of  the  night — 

26th.  No  frost  last  night.  This  morning  early  it  began  to 
blow  very  hard  &  Snowed  a  little — Played  cards  last  night  at 
Mrs.  Cicotts  &  serenaded  the  women  again  about  11  o'clock. 
Mr.  Adamher  informed  me  this  [day]  that  a  letter  came  to  him 
yesterday  directed  to  the  Grie  and  to  the  Pishew  (this  last  is 
Mr.  J.  B.  Richerville)  from  the  Porcupine  &  Soldier  Chief  of 
La  Riviere  a  Languielle,  telling  them  to  have  an  eye  over  their 
young  men  &  not  to  believe  any  false  reports  that  goes  about 
the  county,  that  everything  with  respect  to  Lassell  was  totally 
false,  &  for  the  future  not  to  believe  those  false  reports,  that 
they  may  depend  upon  it  when  ever  any  thing  occurs  they 
would  send  notice  of  it  themselves,  and  never  to  hearken  to  any 
thing  any  one  says  except  when  it  comes  from  people  of  char- 
acter and  chiefs  who  may  be  depended  upon — for  they  cannot 
tell  a  Lye — 

The  Grie  breakfasted  with  us  this  morning  &  went  off  imme- 
diately after  for  his  wintering  camp.  Begins  to  freeze  about  2 
o'clock,     a  very  fine  Evening. 

52Francis  Lasselle  was  a  nephew  of  Antoine;  his  father,  Jacques  Lasselle 
was  Indian  agent  at  Miamitown  from  1776  until  1780.  When  La  Balme  attacked 
the  place  in  the  latter  year  he  fled  by  boat  down  the  Maumee  River  with  his 
family. 


338  Fort    Wayne    in    1790 

27th.  Wednesday.  Very  fine  day — froze  very  hard  all  Night ; 
left  off  blowing  about  8  o  Clock  last  night.  We  had  a  little 
hopp  last  night  at  Mr.  Adamhers  sans  ceremonie.  Turned  out 
thick  &  cloudy  about  1  or  2  o  Clock — and  about  5  began  to 
blow  very  fresh — freeze  hard  and  a  little  Snow — The  Gros 
Loup  (a  Mohicken  Indian  who  has  lived  amongst  the  Miames 
ever  since  his  Infancy),  gave  me  a  love  letter  which  he  picked 
up  in  some  place  or  other — Its  dated  New  Madrid,  May  6th, 
1789  signed  by  J.  S.  Story  and  directed  to  Miss  Betsey  Gray, 
Ipswich  Massechusech. 

This  is  my  mothers  Birth  day — God  bless  her — 42  years  of 
age.53 

28th.  Thursday.  A  very  bitter  cold  day,  froze  hard  all  night. 
Yesterday  Evening  arrived  here  a  Mr.  Lafontenne54  a  Trader 
who  left  this  about  36  days  ago — He  went  down  the  Wabache 
River  then  turned  into  the  woods  towards  White  River  & 
their  traded  with  the  Indians. — he  made  80  Deer  Skins  and 
about  500  Rackoons. — which  he  brought  upon  the  horses  he 
took  out  his  goods  upon — however  he  did  not  trade  all  his 
goods  away,  for  he  fetch'd  some  back — Its  very  extraordinary 
that  meat  was  so  difficult  to  be  had  that  he  &  the  Indian  that 

">3Marie  Julie  Reaume  was  born  at  Detroit  in  1748.  She  married  Jehu  Hay 
and  became  the  mother  of  several  children  in  addition  to  our  journalist.  She  died 
at  Detroit,  March  23,  1795-  In  1793  Henry  Hay  petitioned  for  5000  acres  of  land 
by  way  of  a  pension  for  his  mother,  which  was  granted.  See  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist. 
Colls.,  XX,  691;  XXIV,  557- 

•r>4Probably  Francis  La  Fontaine,  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade 
at  Miamitown  at  least  since  1780.  According  to  La  Balme's  information,  La  Fon- 
taine was  then  in  charge  of  the  warehouse  of  Charles  Beaubien,  the  principal 
trader  of  the  place.  Beaubien  had  married  the  mother  of  J.  B.  Richardville,  the 
Marie  Louisa  of  Hay's  Journal.  Enraged  over  the  plundering  of  their  ware- 
house, Beaubien  and  La  Fontaine  incited  the  Indians  to  make  the  attack  upon 
La  Balme  which  resulted  in  the  destruction  of  his  little  force.  La  Fontaine  had 
a  son,  Francis,  who  married  a  daughter  of  Richardville  and  upon  the  death  of 
that  chieftain  in    1841    succeeded  him  as  chief  of  the  Miami. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  339 

was  with  him  were  five  days  feeding  on  acorns  on  their  return 
home.  The  fifth  day  in  the  Evening  he  sent  the  Indian  on  the 
look-out  for  Indian  hutts  to  purchase  meat,  who  fell  in  with  a 
large  Rackoon  Tree  which  he  cutt  down  &  found  five  in  it, 
which  was  a  great  resource ;  nothing  extraordinary  in  the 
Indian  Country. 

29th.  Friday.  Exceedingly  cold  all  night,  rather  cloudy  & 
thick  this  morning,  about  10  'Clock  began  to  snow. — Messrs. 
Adamher,  Dufresne  &  La  Fontenne  played  cards  here  last 
night —  Turned  out  rather  milder  this  afternoon;  about  8 
o'clock  this  Evening  it  began  to  blow  &  Snow  very  hard — 
The  snow  drifted  a  good  deal — The  wind  did  not  continue  long. 

30th.  Saturday.  Very  fine  day  over  head — a  great  deal  of 
Snow  fell  this  last  night — Not  quite  so  cold  as  yesterday  morn- 
ing.— Began  to  freeze  about  5  o'clock  this  evening — very  clear 
sky. 

31st.  Sunday.  Mild  snowy  morning,  took  a  ride  on  a  car- 
riolle  this  day  with  Mr.  J.  B.  Richerville,  as  far  as  Mr.  James 
Girtys  House  which  is  about  two  miles — Several  Indians  ar- 
rived this  day  from  different  places  with  peltry — This  after- 
noon about  4  or  5  o'clock  arrived  here  Mr.  George  Girty 
from  his  wintering  camp  with  two  loaded  horses  of  Peltry. 
Brought  with  him  his  wife  &  two  sisters  in  law  (Indians) — He 
confirms  the  intention  of  Delawares  going  to  the  Spaniards  in 
the  spring,  but  says  not  many  of  them.  Snowed  the  whole 
blessed  day  &  part  of  the  Evening. 

1st  February.  Monday.  Snowy  morning  &  very  mild.  Mr. 
G.  Girty  returned  this  day  to  his  camp ;  Mr.  Ironside  accom- 
panied him  &  returned  in  the  evening  with  his  horses  loaded 
with  Peltry. — The  Snow  did  not  continue — very  gloomy  day — 


34-0  Fort    Wayne    in    1790 

Mr.  James  Girty55  told  me  this  Evening  that  Capt.  Johnny 
Chief  of  the  Shawanees  was  collecting  all  the  Indians  together 
to  a  Grande  Council — He  also  shew'd  me  a  red  scalp  which  he 
got  from  a  Delaware  Indian ;  the  meaning  of  this  Scalp  he 
does  not  know  as  yet,  but  it  seems  it  must  be  sent  into  Detroit 
by  the  first  opportunity. 

2d  Tuesday.  Frooze  exceedingly  harde  last  night — Cold  & 
Snowy  morning — Turned  out  a  very  fine  Sun  Shiny  day  about 
y2  past  1  o'clock — Still  continues  to  freeze  hard — Wind  N. 
Several  Ottawas  came  in  this  morning  from  hunting,  &  brought 
their  furr  with  them — Mr.  Cicotts  man  arrived  this  morning 
from  their  excursion  to  la  Riviere  a  L'anguille.  Left  Mr.  Ci- 
cott  about  three  Leagues  from  here,  his  Horse  having  given 
out;  This  man  is  to  return  to  him  immediately  with  a  fresh 
one.  Mr.  Abbott,  a  Trader,  of  this  place  one  of  our  disaffected 
subjects  has  been  I'm  told  trying  to  traduce  his  brother 
Traders,  by  telling  the  Indians  that  every  trader  here  was  a 
Soldiar  that  the  Goodfs]  they  had  was  not  theirs  &  that  they 
were  selling  for  other  people — but,  says  he  is  quite  different 
with  me  every  thing  that  I  have  here  is  my  own  &  I  owe  no 
one  anything  whatsoever — 

It  seems  that  he  collected  some  Indians  this  day  at  his  House 
&  told  them  that  every  Trader  here  has  a  pass  &  that  they 
were  obliged  to  have  one,  but  as  for  him  he  had  no  such  thing 
as  a  Pass,   (which  by  the  by  is  the  case).56     I'm  further  in- 

550n  James  Girty  see  supra  note  36.  For  a  comprehensive  sketch  of  his 
career,  see  Thwaites  and  Kellogg,  Frontier  Defense  on  Upper  Ohio,  234,  235, 
O.  M.  Spencer  gives  an  unpleasing  account  of  Girty's  brutality  toward  him  while 
a  captive  at  Grand  Glaize  in    1792.      op.   cit.,  43. 

r.6For  a  contemporary  account  by  William  Robertson  of  the  practice  of 
issuing  passes  to  those  wishing  to  trade  out  of  Detroit  see  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist. 
Colls.,  XI,  639.  Robertson  stated  that  at  that  time,  (1788)  passes  were  no  longer 
required.     Hay's  statements  on  the  subject  seem  to  contradict  this. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  341 

formed  that  he  spoke  to  the  Indians  of  Major  Murray  &  Capt. 
McKee  in  so  disrespectfull  a  manner  that  they  are  determined 
to  send  Strings  of  Wampum  into  Detroit  immediately  to 
informe  them  of  it.  There  is  several  other  things  that  has 
passed  which  has  not  as  yet  to  come  to  my  ears.  Mr.  Cicott 
arrived  about  3  o  Clock  this  afternoon. 

3d.  Wednesday.  Froze  very  hard  all  last  night — Cold  morn- 
ing Wind  N.  Rather  thick  over  head.  Spent  the  Evening  last 
night  at  Mr.  Dufresne's  played  cards. — Mr.  Abbott  proposed 
my  going  with  him  as  a  Companion  in  the  Spring  to  Port  Vin- 
cennes — I  told  him  I  could  not  think  of  venturing  my  Carcass 
to  such  a  place  as  that,  among  a  parcel  of  renegards — This  day 
about  12  o  Clock  arrived  here  Mr.  Kinzie  from  Detroit  which 
he  left  the  23d  of  last  month — Received  a  letter  from  Major 
Murray  and  another  from  my  Brother — also  one  from  the 
Glaize  from  Mr.  Sharpe  acquainting  me  of  his  being  obliged 
to  leve  my  horse  at  that  place  as  he  had  given  out ;  and  was  in 
a  bad  condition — However  Mr.  Kinzie  informs  me  that  he's  in 
a  fair  way  at  present  owing  to  the  good  care  of  Mr.  McDonnell 
who  stays  at  the  Glaize. — 

Mr.  Kinzie  tells  me  the  Major  is  very  well  pleased  with  my 
conduct,  for  having  informed  him  of  what  passed  at  this  place 
&  a  great  deal  of  party  work  at  Detroit,  Damn'd  glad  I'm  not 
amongst  them.  I  look  upon  it  that  I'm  far  better  off  at  this 
place,  tho'  ever  so  much  out  of  the  World.  Haile  and  Raine 
this  Evening  about  7. 

4th.  Thursday.  Snowed  and  froze  hard  from  12  o'clock  last 
night  &  till  this  morning  early — Began  to  snow  again  about  8 
o'Clock  &  still  continues.  Cleared  up  about  3  o'clock  this  after- 
noon— freezes  hard  this  Evening,  Very  Winday.  Several  In- 
dians, (Principally  Shawnee)  arrived  this  Evening  with  a 
quantity  of  Peltry.    The  Snake  has  passed  three  days  with  us 


342  Fort    Wayne    in    1790 

here — He  returned  to  his  Camp  this  afternoon. — As  we  began 
some  few  days  ago  to  establish  a  society,  call'd  the  Most  Light 
Honorable  Society  of  the  Monks,  we  have  this  Evening  corn- 
pleated  it — Mr.  Leith  is  appointed  Grand  Master  and  Commis- 
sary— Hay  Secretary,  J.  B.  Richerville,  J.  B.  Lassell,  Francis 
Lassell,  Geo.  Ironside  &  J.  Kinzie,  La  Chambre,  Musician  to 
the  Society.  Rules  are  to  be  drawn  out  for  which  hereafter  no 
one  will  be  allowed  to  be  a  member  without  he  gives  his  Honor 
that  he  will  truely  &  voluntarily  stick  by  them,  and  support 
them  with  all  his  might  &c  &c  &c. 

5th.  Friday.  Little  snow  this  morning  early.  Rather  thick 
over  head.  The  weather  much  milder;  but  still  pretty  cold — 
Saw  Mr.  Cicott  yesterday — nothing  in  that  part  of  the  Indian 
Country  that  he's  been  in. — Turned  faire  about  Yi  past  ten 
o  Clbck.  The  sun  out. — Mr.  Ironside  &  James  Girty  are 
gone  down  this  afternoon  to  the  Shawanee's  village  about  3 
miles  from  here  to  try  &  get  their  peltry. 

Turned  exceedingly  cold  about  12  o'clock — Very  high  wind 
— N.  W.  Mr.  J.  B.  Richervilles  mother  arrived  this  day  from 
her  wintering  camp — Went  &  paid  her  a  visit  about  1  OClock — 
She  has  been  a  handsome  woman — 

6th.  Saturday.  Supped  last  night  with  J.  B.  Lassell,  Kinzie, 
Richerville  &  F.  Lassell  were  there — we  played  cards  till  ^ 
past  1  oClock — Froze  much  harder  &  the  cold  much  keener  this 
last  night  than  it  has  been  this  winter.  Very  beautifull  Sun 
Shiny  day  &  quite  calme.     Very  mild  Evening. 

7th.  Sunday.  A  Little  Snow  this  morning — High  wind — S. 
Quite  mild — It  Thaws.     Snow  &  very  high  wind  this  Evening. 

8th.  Monday.  Cold  morning — Froze  very  hard  most  part  of 
the  night.  The  Rules  of  our  Community  (which  is  now  call'd 
the  Friars  of  St.  Andrew)  are  drawn  out  by  the  Grand  Master 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  343 

and  this  day  to  be  copied  and  translated  into  French  by  the 
Secretary.  This  Evening  Mr.  Leith  collected  the  Friars  of 
St.  Andrew  and  made  them  acquainted  with  the  articles  they 
are  to  abide  by,  after  which  each  member  got  a  copy  of  them. 

9th  Tuesday.  Froze  very  hard  all  night  &  exceedingly  cold 
— It  continues  very  cold — altho'  the  Sun  is  out.  Wind  W.  and 
very  Strong  all  day,  this  day  is  absolutely  the  Coldest  we  have 
had  this  winter  as  far  as  this,  &  its  the  opinion  of  every  one 
as  well  as  myself. 

10th.  Wednesday.  Froze  hard  last  night ;  Very  fine  clear 
day  over  head,  but  still  very  cold.  Wind  W.  but  not  so  strong 
as  yesterday.    Not  quite  so  cold  this  Evening  as  the  last. 

nth.  Thursday.  Much  milder  than  yesterday;  Rather 
Clowdy  &  Thicker  over  head. — It  was  an  excessive  cold  night 
notwith-standing.  Visited  Mrs.  Adamher  this  afternoon — 
Copy'd  off  the  two  french  songs  that  she  made ;  respecting  her 
Stolen  Pigg, — And  the  Miamies  Recollects. 

1 2th.  Friday.  Very  fine  day  over  head,  Rather  colder  than 
yesterday,  Not  very  cold  this  last  night ;  it  began  to  freeze  hard 
about  day  breake.  This  afternoon  arrived  here  one  Claire- 
mont  from  the  Petit  Piconno,  says  Mr.  Lassell  arrived  theire 
about  15  days  ago.  Nothing  extraordinary  in  that  part  of  the 
Country — was  8  days  on  his  way  here. 

13th  Saturday. — very  beautifull  day,  not  the  least  cold. — 
Some  Indians  have  lately  been  near  the  Ohio — on  this  side  of 
it  it  seems  they  fell  in  with  a  Party  of  Americans,  killed  some 
of  them  &  stole  their  horses,  and  took  a  negro  Prisoner,  one 
of  those  Indians  a  Shawanee  who  goes  by  the  name  of  the 
Horse  Jockey  was  wounded  in  the  breast  &  hand  by  his  own 
Tomyhauk  which  the  American  had  wrested  from  him.     The 


344  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

Indian  however  got  the  better  &  killed  him.  The  above  ac- 
count we  got  several  days  ago. 

This  morning  about  Yi  past  10  oClock  a  Party  of  warriors 
of  the  Shawanies  Nation  brought  in  a  Prisoner — They  took 
him  on  this  side  of  the  Ohio  at  the  mouthe  of  Kentuck. 

The  Party  that  took  him  were  out  hunting  last  Spring,  dur- 
ing which  time  some  Miamis  went  to  war  and  returned  a  dif- 
ferent road  they  went  &  passed  by  this  hunting  party,  the 
Americans  pursued  them  &  fell  in  with  the  Hunters  &  killed 
several  of  them  women  &  Children  &c.  one  Joseph  Sovereigns 
who  had  been  a  Prisoner  from  his  infancy  was  killed  at  that 
place; — These  People  went  out  last  fall  to  revenge  themselves 
&  took  this  Prisoner  who  was  out  hunting  much  about  the 
same  place  w[h]ere  their  own  people  were  killed.  Mess. 
Leith,  Ironside  &  myself  went  down  to  the  Chilicothe  village 
of  Shawanese57 — They  were  then  in  council — that  is  the  young 
man  who  took  the  Prisoner  was  given  a  very  minute  Report 
of  all  what  passed — which  they  are  obliged  to  do — This  party 
is  not  of  this  village,  they  belong  to  the  Messessinoue58  Vil- 
lage. The  Reason  for  bringing  him  here  is,  that  he's  given  to 
a  man  of  this  village. 

Little  Raine  &  Sleete  this  afternoon,  turned  out  Snow  this 
Evening. 

14th.  Sunday.  Very  disagreeable  day.  It  thaws  very  much. 
— The  Prisoner  will  not  be  hurt — Black  Bairde  Chiefe  of  the 
Chilicothe  Village  is  not  at  home;  Theire  will  be  a  ceremony 
whe[n]  he  arrives  to  adopt  this  Prisoner — I  forgot  to  mention 
that  when  they  came  in  with  him  yesterday,  he  held  in  his  hand 

57Two    miles    below    Miamitown. 

58The    modern   Mississinewa.      The    Miami    name    of    the    stream    is    Na-ma-tci- 
sin-wi,  meaning    'it  slants,"  i.  e.,  there  is  much  fall  in  the  river. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  345 

a  Shishequia  which  he  kept  ringing-  in  his  hand,  (its  made  of 
deer's  hoofs)  singing  out  lowde  the  words  Oh  Kentuck.  His 
face  was  painted  as  black  as  Divils — which  will  be  rubbed  off 
as  soon  as  he  is  adopted  by  one  of  the  Roy'l  Family — He'll  be 
washed  &  cleaned  up  &c.  When  they  came  into  the  Town  they 
stopped  at  a  French  mans  house — Several  Indians  of  their  ac- 
quaintance went  up  to  them  &  shook  hands  with  them  &  the 
Prisoner,  which  was  a  good  sign  respecting  the  latter ; — For 
we  were  apprehensive  that  they  would  burn  him,  as  they  went 
to  war  upon  a  revenge.  They  have  its  seems  got  a  good  many 
Horses  this  Trip. — Mr.  Kinzie  &  Mr.  James  Girty  went  down 
this  afternoon  to  see  this  Prisoner;  Kinzie  informed  him  that 
he  need  not  be  upon  any  apprehension  for  his  life  &  that  he  was 
very  lucky  in  being  in  hand  that  he  was ;  Kinzie  asked  him 
where  he  was  borne  he  answered  Richmond  in  Virginia,  that 
he  left  that  place  a  little  better  than  a  month  that  he  came  thro' 
the  Wilderness  to  Kentucky  to  get  a  debt  that  was  due  him  in 
that  Country  that  he  was  Several1  days  in  Kentucky — &  not 
more  than  two  at  the  mouthe  of  the  River,  when  he  was  pro- 
posed by  two  other  young  men  to  cross  the  Ohio  &  hunt  Turkey 
saying  there  was  a  great  number  of  them,  they  had  not  been 
crossed  but  a  very  little  time  after  separating  themselves  in 
different  parts  of  the  wood,  when  he  perceived  the  other  two 
making  for  the  River,  he  did  the  same,  but  too  late  for  they 
had  already  got  into  the  Canoe  &  were  actually  crossing  over, 
he  attempted  to  take  the  woods  but  could  not,  the  Indians  had 
him  between  them  &  the  River,  however  he  tryed  what  he 
could  do,  &  attempting  to  look  round  he  received  a  knock  in 
the  forehead  with  a  War  Billet,  (which  was  thrown  by  one  of 
the  Indians  with  an  intention  of  hitting  him  in  the  Neck)  he 
was  immediately  seized  by  another  Indian,  the  other  called  out 


346  Fort   Wayne    in    1790 

not  to  hurt  him ;  which  they  did  not. — The  Chiefe  who  was 
out  hunting  heard  of  a  prisoner  being  taken  sent  word  imme- 
diately that  he  should  not  be  hurt — Its  about  fifteen  days  ago 
since  he  wyas  taken — They  have  washed  his  face — but  not  his 
boddy,  which  will  be  done  &  also  cleanly  dressed  when  the 
Chiefe  Black  (Bairde)  arrives,  a  Belt  of  Wampums  is  now 
making  which  will  be  thrown  over  his  head  when  he's  adopted 
&  which  he'll  ware.  He's  being  lately  from  Virginia  shews  very 
plainly  that  he  was  not  in  the  action  last  Spring,  and  that  some 
evil  minded  people  who  wanted  to  hurt  him  in  the  mind  of 
the  Indians — He's  quite  a  young  man,  his  name  is  McMullen. 

15th.  Monday.  Rained,  Hailed,  Thunder'd  &  Lightened 
about  day  breake  this  morning  as  if  heaven  &  Earth  was  com- 
ing together — Still  Rains — Did  not  raine  much  after  10 
o'Clock,  but  Springkled  which  made  it  very  dis-grable — The 
weather  much  changed,  we  were  obliged  to  open  the  windows 
almost  all  day. — Dined  with  J.  B.  Richerville  in  company 
with  J.  B.  Lassell,  F.  L.  &  Kinzie. 

1 6th  Tuesday.  What  with  Thaw  &  Raine  the  Snow  is 
almost  off  the  Grounde.  Rained  pretty  smart  this  morning — 
Rained  very  hard  all  day — 

17th  Wednesday.  Yesterday  being  Mardi  Gras  the  Friars 
of  St.  Andrew,  supped  together  at  Mr.  Richervilles.  Mr.  Iron- 
side being  unwell  could  not  come.  They  sang  a  good  many 
songs  &  retired  to  their  cells  in  good  time — The  water  has 
risen  exceedingly  this  last  night — at  least  12  feet.  Break- 
fasted this  morning  at  Mr.  J.  B.  Richervilles — Rained  most 
part  of  the  night. 

1 8th.  Thursday.  Water  much  higher,  it  now  runs  thro  the 
Village  in  such  a  manner  that  it  separates  it  in  three  parts — 
the  place  that  it  runs  in  at,  is  quite  rappid ;  This  part  of  Vil- 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  347 

lage  is  quite  low  &  small  rising  ground  on  each  side,  occasioned 
by  the  great  flood  last  year,  when  it  seems  the  people  were 
obliged  to  desert  their  houses  &  take  for  the  Rising  Hills  in  the 
woods  &  their  encamp.  The  water  is  now  within  two  feet  of 
being  level  with  the  bank  of  the  River  which  is  not  less  than 
eighteen  feet  high,  the  River  is  at  present  about  twice  as 
broad  as  it  was,  before  the  water  began  to  rise.  Weather  quite 
Milde  but  Clowdy.  Water  enough  in  the  River  for  the 
Rebecca"9  to  Swim  in.  The  rappid  so  very  strong,  that  its  as 
much  as  two  men  can  do  to  bring  up  a  Canoe. 

We  are  obliged  to  make  use  of  Peerogues  or  Canoes  to  go 
to  see  those  people  who  live  on  the  other  two  Islands  occa- 
sioned by  the  water — Sun  shined  about  4  o'Clock,  turned  a 
beautifull  Evening  untill  about  8  or  9  o'Clock  when  it  became 
Clowdy  &  Thick.  After  sun  sett  Mr.  Leith,  Ironside,  Kinzie 
&  myself  and  some  french  men,  carried  a  long  flatt  piece  of 
Timber  &  placed  it  across  the  narrowest  part  of  the  run  &  fall 
which  enters  from  the  River  for  the  purpose  of  crossing  more 
at  our  ease,  as  we  are  often  obliged  to  be  going  backwards  & 
forwards  from  our  house  to  that  of  Mr.  Leiths — it  makes  a 
very  good  Bridge. 

19th.  Wednesday.  Raine  this  morning  early — Pretty  smart 
— a  thin  sleety  raine  continues  which  makes  it  very  disagree- 
able— Rather  a  Raw  day.  Water  still  Rising.  This  after- 
noon about  2  o'clock  arrived  here  from  Detroit  one  Jerome  a 
french  man  in  Mr.  Leiths  employ  with  a  Horse  load  of  Blankets 
and  Robedoux  who  left  this  for  Detroit  19th.  Jany  on  Mr.  A. 
Lasells  affairs — They  came  as  far  as  Roche  de  Bout  in  Slays — 

•"'OThe  "Rebecca"  was  a  government  armed  vessel  of  136  tons,  built  at  Detroit 
in  1782.  When  used  as  a  merchant  vessel  she  carried  a  complement  of  fifteen 
men;  when  equipped  as  a  war  vessel,  thirty-five  men.  Mich.  Pion.  &  Hist.  Colls., 
XXIV,  12. 


348  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

Received  letters  from  my  Brother,  Meredith,  Baby  &  Mr.  Rob- 
ertson— the  last  respecting  one  Chevalier  at  Petit  Piconno, 
which  Mr.  Robertson  had  heard  was  dead,  but  no  such  thing. 
The  ice  began  to  float  down  the  River  about  3  o'Clock  this 
afternoon  but  soon  stopped.  8  o'Clock  the  River  is  quite 
choacked  up  with  Ice  &  the  water  Rising  very  fast,  its  now 
equal  with  the  Banks  of  the  river.  9  o'Clock  some  of  the  Ice 
entirely  over  one  part  of  the  Bank. — My  Horse  which  Mr. 
Sharpe  left  at  the  Glaize  is  dead, — not  owing  to  the  fatigue 
he  got,  but  a  small  worme  which  has  killed  a  great  number  of 
Horses — he  was  fatt  when  he  died.  Played  cards  at  Mr. 
Dufresne's  this  Evening,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adamher. 

20th  Saturday. — Began  to  raine  this  morning  about  day 
breake  excessively  hard  &  left  off  about  8  or  9  o'Clock — A 
great  fogg  this  morning.  Our  bridge  across  the  Run  carried 
off — The  Ice  has  totally  choaked  up  the  entrance  of  Run  so 
much  that  it  answers  in  lieu  of  the  bridge,  the  River  is  choaked 
up  in  the  same  manner,  a  Person  might  easily  cross  the  River 
upon  it. — Fogg  cleared  up  about  10  o'Clock  &  began  to  blow 
pretty  fresh. — Went  to  Mr.  Cicotts  this  day  to  inform  myself 
Respecting  Piere  Chevallier  trader  at  Tipiconno  for  Mr.  Rob- 
ertson, from  one  Cleremont  who  lately  came  from  that  place 
but  he  could  not  give  me  so  good  an  account  of  him  as  Mr. 
Cicott  who  went  theire  himself  this  winter — he  says  some 
time  in  December  last  this  Chevallier  was  robbed  by  the 
Potuwatomie  Indians,  in  the  night  when  asleep  owing  to  his 
not  making  his  door  fast,  that  he  got  some  of  his  goods  back, 
and  that  what  they  got  was  not  considerable — Mr.  Cicott  says 
that  its  risking  Property  too  much,  to  let  him  have  it,  as  he 
lives  in  the  woods  with  only  one  man  with  him  continually 
exposed  to  the  malice  &  treachery  of  the  Indians  about  him — 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  349 

that  he  means  to  come  to  this  place  very  early  in  the  Spring 
and  will  send  in  a  few  packs  to  Mr.  Robertson. 

1 1  o'Clock.  Wind  seems  to  increase —  About  3  o'Clock  this 
afternoon  the  Ice  floated  down  the  River  &  the  Run  all  in  a 
body,  I  don't  'think  I  ever  saw  a  grander  sight ;  a  number  of 
Loggs  &  Trees,  stumps  of  trees  &c  came  down  upon  it.  The 
River  is  now  pretty  clear  except  the  run  which  is  full  from 
the  mouthe  till  about  halfway.  The  water  which  ris  imme- 
diately on  the  ice's  going,  is — now  lowering  much — I  must 
observe  that  a  little  time  before  the  Ice  went  off  that  two 
Miami  Indians  walked  over  it,  a  third  was  on  his  way  when 
the  Ice  began  to  move,  he  was  obliged  to  return  immediately ; 
The  Ice  made  a  great  noise  when  it  came  down.  The  water 
touched  Mr.  Payett's  step  into  his  house  and  very  near  that 
of  Mr.  Cicotts — The  Ice  was  by  large  lumps  jumbled  up 
together  which  occasioned  the  noise,  as  they  Ran  one  over  the 
other. — Rather  Raw  this  Evening. — Raine  from  7  to  9 
o'Clock. 

21"  Sunday.  Beautifull  morning.  The  River  quite  clear  of 
Ice — The  Run  still  choaked  up —  Water  about  four  feet  lower. 
— about  10  or  11  o'Clock  the  Run  got  clear  of  Ice.  About  1 
or  2  o'Clock  it  began  to  raine  &  continued  'till  the  Evening. — 
A  Great  deal  of  Ice  came  down  this  afternoon,  a  good  deal  of 
it  went  thro'  the  Run — Water  rise  a  good  deal  this  afternoon. — 
a  great  quantity  of  Ice  at  the  bottom  of  the  Run,  a  great  quan- 
tity of  Wood,  Old  Trees  &c.  came  down  with  the  Ice  this  Even- 
ing. This  evening  I  was  sent  for  by  Mr.  J.  B.  Lassell  to  be  a 
witness  to  his  marriage  with  Miss  Rivarre.  Mr.  Adamher, 
Mr.  De  Seleron  and  Mr.  Barthelemie  were  also  witness. — 

22nd.  Monday.  The  finest  day  I  have  seen  for  some  time — 
A  good  deal  of  Ice  still  floating. — The  Centre  of  the  Run 


350  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

choaked  up. — a  great  quantity  of  Trees,  Stumps  &c.  floating 
down  this  morning — Froze  a  little  last  night.  12  o'Clock — Mr. 
Lcith  got  the  people  to  make  a  Bridge  with  the  loggs  that 
floated  into  the  mouthe  of  the  Run — Very  little  Ice  floating 
at  Present. 

23rd.  Tuesday.  Damn'd  disagreeable  day.  Rained  most 
Part  of  the  night,  Thunder  a  little  at  a  distance ;  Snowed  about 
day  breake.  Yesterday  rote  Meredith,  Jack  Robertson,  Wm. 
Robertson  &  my  Brother,  and  this  morning  wrote  to  Thorns. 
McKee.60  Not  the  least  sign  of  Ice  on  the  River.  Raine  most 
part  of  the  afternoon — Thunder  &  Lightning  about  5  o'Clock, 
&  rained  exceedingly  hard.  Mr.  Ironside  shewed  me  how  to 
know  when  the  Lightning  &  Thunder  is  near — As  soon  as  it 
lights  you  Count  the  number  of  Seconds  between  it  &  the 
thunder,  &  each  second,  its  1120  feet  off — multiply  this  by 
the  number  of  seconds,  divide  by  3  &  it  will  give  you  yards 
and  by  1760  &  it  will  give  you  the  distance  in  miles  should  it 
be  10  far. 

24th.  Wednesday.  Some  time  in  the  night  Mr.  Kinzie  came 
in  to  informe  us  that  the  water  was  rising  very  high  that  it 
was  already  at  his  Step — He  came  in  again  about  day  breake 
&  told  us  it  was  entirely  in  his  House,  desired  he  might  bring 
his  apprentices  here  &  also  stay  himself  with  us — The  water 
is  amasingly  high  obliged  to  make  use  of  a  canoe  to  fetch  Mr. 
Leith  here,  the  water  rising  close  to  his  Door — Mrs.  &  Miss 
Payee  obliged  to  fly  theire  House  about  12  o'Clock  in  the 
night  &  take  refuge  at  Mr.  Barthelmies,  Mr.  &  Mrs.  Cicott 
were  obliged  also  to  go  up  to  their  Garrett.  Mr.  Lorains,  Mr. 
Lafontaine  Houses  &  Mr.  Kinzie's  Shopp  where  he  works  i:s 

60Son    of    Alexander    McKee,    and    for    many    years    in    the    British    Indian 
Department. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  351 

an  Island  of  itself.  A  river  runs  on  each  side  of  them  the 
same  at  Mr.  Leiths,  but  the  last  will  soon  be  overflooed —  9 
o'Clock,  Its  at  present  not  far  from  our  own  door — Obliged 
to  cut  down  Picketts  &  make  a  road  thro  the  different  yards, 
the  Streets  and  Bank  entirely  overflooed — Blows  excessively 
hard — Raine  most  part  of  the  Morning —  Our  House  quite 
surrounded  with  water —  Runs  amasingly  in  the  cellar — Mr. 
Leith  obliged  to  desert  his. —  Every  House  almost  in  the 
village  is  in  the  same  Predicament — we  are  all  obliged  to  put 
our  trunks  &  things  in  the  lofte — We  are  now  Prepared  for 
its  coming  in  the  House —  Mr.  Leith  &  Kinzie  put  up  a  stove 
in  the  loft  of  the  Company's  House —  Mr.  Ironside  &  myself 
joined  them  this  afternoon —  The  water  came  into  the  house 
about  3  o'Clock,  a  good  deal  came  up  from  the  cellar.  After 
Supper  which  was  about  6  o'Cl'ock  Mr.  Leith  returned  to  his 
own  Garrett.  Mr.  Ironside  &  myself  got  under  way  in  the 
Canoe  to  return  to  our  Garrett,  but  we  were  very  unfortunate, 
just  as  we  came  into  the  rappidest  part  of  the  water,  a  whirl 
Pool  very  near  oversett  the  Canoe,  Mr.  Ironside  who  was 
steering,  slipped  backwards  &  fell  into  the  water,  the  canoe  had 
then  greate  way  &  lucky  enough  arrived  close  to  the  upper 
part  of  the  Picketts  of  the  Grave  Yarde  which  I  immediately 
took  hold  of  &  held  fast  by  them  standing  on  the  ribbon, 
pushed  the  Canoe  off  immediately  with  the  lads  that  were 
in  it,  who  got  down  the  Current  in  time  to  save  him.  He  says 
when  the  canoe  came  up  to  him,  he  was  just  gone — The  lads 
took  him  into  one  Mr.  J.  Morris — &  came  immediately  back  for 
me — I  got  some  dry  clothes  for  him  at  Mr.  Adamhers. — 
Water  not  rising  much. 

25th.   Thursday.    Water  very  little  higher  than  it  was — Blue 
and    froze   excessively   hard   this    last   night — Very    fine    sun 


352  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

shiny  day.  As  I'm  not  overfond  of  Canoes  I  do  not  mean  to 
return  to  the  Compys  House. — Breakfasted  at  Mr.  Adamhers 
&  I'm  engaged  to  dine  there  also.  11  o'Clock,  Water  seem- 
ingly Rising — 

26th.  Friday.  Very  little  frost  last  night'. —  Gloomy  day — 
Water  rose  a  little  last  night  &  is  still  rising. — Canoes  goes 
thro  several  yards  ever  since  the  day  before  yesterday.  There 
is  not  above  three  Houses  that  you  can  walk  to  without  wet- 
ting yourself  or  going  in  a  Canoe.  Went  in  a  Pirogue  with 
J.  B.  Richerville  &  F.  Lassell  &  paid  a  visit  to  Mr.  Leith  in 
the  Friponne,61  also  to  Mrs.  Cicott  in  her  Garrett — This  last 
House  has  at  least  water  half  way  up  to  the  Garrett  Floor — 
Sun  shined  about  ^  past  12  o'Clock.  Pd.  J.  B.  Lassell  a  visit 
alone.  The  water  had  obliged  Richerville  to  quit  his  House  & 
go  to  his  mother's,  Her  House  is  very  high  from  the  Earthe, 
which  prevents  the  water  coming  to  it  as  soon  as  the  others. 

27th.  Saturday.  Wind  began  to  blow  very  hard  last  night 
about  10  o'Clock  &  continued  the  most  part  of  the  night. — 
Froze  very  hard — Water  lowered  a  little — Very  fine  day — 1 
o'Clock — Water  still  falling.  High  wind  this  afternoon,  S.  W. 
About  Sun  sett  the  wind  dyed  away  &  it  became  a  perfect 
Calme ;  A  very  beautifull  Evening —  Water  has  fallen  about  4 
inches  at  least  this  day. 

28th.  Sunday.  Froze  very  hard  last  night.  Water  fallen 
about  15  Inches  since  last  night.     Very  fine  Sun  shiny  day — 

6iProbably  this  term  is  used  in  the  sense  of  warehouse.  Toward  the  close 
of  the  French  regime  in  Canada  royal  storehouses  were  established  at  Quebec 
and  Montreal.  Because  of  the  officials  peculations  that  developed  in  connection 
with  their  administration  both  the  storehouse  at  Quebec  and  the  one  at  Montreal 
became  popularly  known  as  La  Friponne,  or  The  Cheat.  See  Francis  Parkman, 
Montcalm  and  Wolfe  (Boston,  1885),  II,  24.  It  seems  probable  that  the  term 
passed  into  more  or  less  general  use  as  the  designation  for  storehouses  at  the 
French    posts. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  353 

Our  floor  quite  dry — Payed  a  visit  to  Mr.  Abbott  this  after- 
noon in  comp'y  with  Miss.  Adamher,  Dufresne  &  Coco  Las- 
sell — from  that  we  went  to  see  Mr.  Lafontaine. —  Coco  got 
damned  drunk —  After  those  visits,  J.  B.  Lassell,  J.  B. 
Richerville  &  Francois  Lassell  &  myself  gave  the  ladys  a  row 
upon  &  down  the  River,  the  fiddler  played  a  few  tunes  and 
myself  on  the  flute. 

1  March.  Monday.  Water  has  fallen  at  least  two  feet  since 
yesterday —  Froze  hard  and  snow'd  a  good  deal  this  morning. 
10  o'clock  Its  now  thawing  which  makes  it  very  dirty  & 
disagreeable —  Water  still  falling  very  much. — 6  o'clock — 
Little  Raine  &  Slee'te  this  Evening —  The  snow  entirely  gone. 

2d.  Tuesday.  Very  dark  disagreeable  day —  Water  fallen 
greatly,  the  Bank  entirely  dry — but  very  much  worne  away — 
particularly  opposite  to  Blue  Jacketts  door  its  not  above  five  or 
six  feet  wide — before  it  was  at  least  10  or  12.  Mr.  Leith  & 
Kinzie  have  moved  back  to  us  this  morning.  Yesterday  after- 
noon Mr.  Ironside  &  Myself  moved  our  baggage  down  from 
the  Lofte. — This  day  The  King  of  the  Shawnee  called  the 
{Wolfe)  Capt.  Snake  &  another  Chiefe  of  the  same  Nation 
came  to  this  place — that  a  meeting  should  be  made  of  the  Prin- 
cipal Traders  &  Inhabitants  of  the  place,  which  was  done — He 
then  got  up  and  spoke  as  follows — Fathers  &  Brothers  here 
assembled,  this  is  to  acquaints  you  that  we  are  now  going  to 
gather  all  our  straggling  nation  together  and  build  a  village 
a  little  distance  up  from  here —  for  which  we  have  to  request 
you  will  let  us  have  a  little  Tobacco  &  Vermillion — by  &  when 
our  village  is  Built  we  shall  hold  a  grand  Council  &  informe 
you  of  our  Wants —  What  we  want  now  is  to  rise  the  hearts 
of  our  young  men.  And  you  may  be  assured  you  shall  lose 
nothing  by  it,  for  we  mean  to  cultivate  the  land  and  rase  a 


354  Fort    Wayne   in    1790 

good  deal  of  corn  &  will  recompense  you  for  your  present 
kindness  to  us —  The  people  all  of  a  voice  announced  that 
they  approved  very  much  of  theire  coming  to  live  together  in 
one  place —  And  gave  them  what  they  wanted —  The  String 
of  Wampum  was  given  to  Mr.  Adamher —  The  ChiHcothy 
tribe  of  Shawaneese  who  have  their  village  a  little  distance 
down  from  here  are  not  to  move. —  Raine,  Snow  &  Northerly 
Wind  this  afternoon.  Snow's  and  freezes  very  hard  this 
Evening. 

3rd.  Wednesday.  Excessively  cold  all  night  &  continues  to 
be  so — blowed  also  very  hard  all  night  &c  Ice  floating  down 
the  River  this  morning —  Water  quite  low,  the  entrance  of  the 
Gully  dry.  Amazingly  cold  all  day  &  blew  very  hard —  Two 
of  the  Shawanee  Chiefs  went  off  this  day ;  Snake  remained — 
Capt.  Johnny  came  up  this  day  from  his  Village. 

4th.  Thursday.  Froze  hard  all  night.  A  little  snow —  not 
near  so  colde  this  morning  as  yesterday — Rather  an  obscure 
day.  No  wind.  Its  very  curious  how  the  water  has  rise  & 
spread  itself  in  this  Country  in  about  thirty  years —  There  is 
an  old  French  woman  in  this  place  of  the  name  of  Barthelmie 
who  says  she  recollects  when  the  banks  of  the  River  were  so 
near  one  to  another  and  consequently  the  River  so  narrow, 
that  at  low  water  the  children  used  to  jump  over  it.  Seated 
this  morning  at  the  Bottom  of  the  Gully  opposite  Mrs.  Payees. 
Turned  out  a  very  fine  afternoon —  Thaw's  very  much.  Snake 
gone  home. 

5th.  Friday.  Froze  hard  last  night.  Windy,  dark  day — 
Thaws  a  good  deal.  To  shew  what  rascalls  their  is  in  this 
place — one  Lucie  a  Canadian  who  was  in  Mr.  Abbotts  service 
was  seen  carrying  off  a  Bundle  of  Hay  this  morning  by  Mr. 
Leith  &  J.  Forsythe  which  he  stole  out  of  the  Friponne,  thro' 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  355 

the  window. —  (The  Property  of  Mr.  Leith's)  The  fellow  at 
first  denied  it,  but  when  he  found  there  were  such  convincing 
proofs  against  him,  he  acknowledged  it,  by  saying  there  was 
no  harme  in  taking  a  little  Hay.  It's  some  time  now  that  the 
Hay  has  been  Perceived  going  damned  fast ;  Mr.  Kinzie  has 
at  the  same  time  a  good  deal  of  property  in  the  said  House — 
Mr.  Adamher  however  has  sent  him  a  summons  to  appear 
before  him  at  Mr.  Leithes  desire.  The  fellow  appeared  is 
obliged  to  get  security  for  his  good  behaviour  hereafter. 

Raine  most  part  of  the  afternoon.  This  afternoon,  the  Lit- 
tle Turtle,  the  Grees  wife  &  Brother  arrived  here  with  some 
other  of  their  family  from  their  wintering  &  hunting  Ground. 
The  Grie  has  been  sick  but  is  now  getting  better. 

6th.  Saturday.  Raine  &  high  wind  all  night —  Very  dirty 
disagreeable  darke  Clowdy  day,  Wind  blows  very  hard.  4 
o'Clock.     Begins  to  freeze  very  hard. 

7th.  Sunday.  Froze  excessively  hard  all  last  night. —  Very 
cold  Windy  day.  This  morning  the  Little  Turtle,  The  Gries 
Brother  &c.  left  this  for  their  home — Sent  a  pound  of  Tobacco 
to  the  Grie  with  my  Compliments.  This  afternoon  Mr.  Leiths 
pierogue  arrived  here  from  Roch  de  Bout,  which  left  this  the 
24th  Feby. 

8th.  Monday.  An  excessive  cold  day,  Wind  blows  very  hard 
&c  A  great  deal  of  Ice  floating  down  the  River.  Clowdy  &  a 
little  Snow  in  the  morning — but  turned  out  very  clear  in  the 
afternoon. 

9th.  Tuesday.  Very  fine  Sun  Shiny  day — not  so  cold  as 
yesterday  and  very  calme.     The  River  full  of  floating  Ice. 

Three  months  this  day  I  left  Detroit. 

10th.  Wednesday.  Very  mild  day —  Very  thick  over  head — 
a  great  deal  of  Snow  fell  this  last  night.    This  day  the  Chili- 


356  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

cothy  young  men  came  down  from  the  place  where  The  Town 
is  to  be  built,  they  have  already  finished  the  Council  House, 
which  is  by  all  accounts  a  very  long  one.  This  afternoon  one 
Shirelock  arrived  here  from  his  wintering  ground,  (he  trades 
for  Mr.  Leith)  in  consequence  of  one  Montroills  stealing  his 
Propperty  to  the  amount  of  Twenty  Eight  Bucks  he  has 
brought  the  fellow  with  him —  This  Montroille  is  a  fellow  who 
has  abandoned  himself  totally  &  lives  amongst  the  Indians, 
those  kind  of  people  are  of  the  worst,  they  are  very  pernicious 
to  the  Trade  who  fill  the  Indians  Heads  with  very  bad  notions 
&  think  nothing  of  Robbin  the  Traders  Property ;  when  they 
have  an  opportunity,  such  Rascalls  ought  to  be  dealt  with  very 
severely  and  totally  excommunicated  from  the  Indian  Country. 

nth.  Thursday.  Rather  cold  this  morning,  but  still  thick 
and  Clowdy  over  head.  Montroille  appeared  this  morning 
who  ownes  the  deed.  Shirelock  told  him  it  was  no  more  of 
his  business  that  the  property  he  robbed  was  Mr.  Leiths  & 
that  it  lay  in  his  Breast  what  should  be  done  to  him —  He 
makes  great  promises  and  says  that  he  will  hire  himself  to 
Mr.  Leith  &  work  out  what  he  Robbed ;  Mr.  Ironside  told  him 
he  would  speake  to  Mr.  Leith  about  it.  I  believe  this  matter  is 
now  settled  the  man  is  to  work  out  the  value  of  what  he 
stole —  Turned  out  a  very  fine  day  about  12  O'Clock. 

1 2th.  Friday.  Sott  up  all  night  with  Mr.  Adamher  &  some 
more  Gentlemen  at  Mr.  Lorrains  who  has  been  very  ill  near 
Eight  months.  He  fell  in  a  kind  of  a  Trance  last  Tuesday 
afternoon  about  4  o'Clock  and  continued  so  untill  this  day  at 
12  oClock  and  died — during  the  time  he  was  in  this  situation 
he  took  no  nourishment  whatever,  his  Eyes  were  shut,  had 
no  hearing,  kept  constantly  blowing  &  now  &  then  coughed  a 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  357 

little. — He  was  the  oldest  Inhabitant  of  this  Place  &  Environs, 
he  has  been  here  &c  40  years62 — 

Very  disagreeable  dirty  day,  It  thaws  very  much.  A  good 
deal  of  Raine  this  Evening. 

13th.  Saturday.  Very  fine  day,  but  very  muddy  &  dirty 
under  foot ;  Blows  excessively  hard.  Mr.  Lorain  was  buried 
this  day.  The  young  Volunteers  of  the  place  gave  him  three 
Vollies  at  the  request  of  some  of  the  Pincipal  People  here,  in 
Honor  to  his  services  rendered  to  the  King  of  Great  Britains, 
and  long  Residence  in  this  place.  I  shewed  them  how  to  Pro- 
ceed respecting  the  manouvers,  the  word  of  Command  was 
given  by  one  Vivie  who  has  been  a  Drummer  in  the  late  84th. 
Regt.  1  B'n 

14th.  Sunday.  Very  beautifull  day  quite  calme — Froze  a 
little  last  night  &  a  little  snow  before  day  Breake.  This  day 
Mr.  Geo.  Girty  came  down  from  his  wintering  Camp.  Snake 
came  down  also  to  day  from  his  village,  he  dined  and  got  very 
drunk  at  Mr.  Abbotts.  It  seems  that  that  Gentleman  wants 
Snake  to  accompany  him  to  the  Post,  but  he'll  find  himself 
mistaken  for  the  other  would  not  go  with  him  upon  any 
account. 

15th.  Monday.  Very  fine  day,  a  little  frost  last  night — 
Wind  rather  high. —  Sherlock  &  Geo.  Girty  returned  this  day 
to  their  wintering  place.  Turned  thick  &  Clowdy  about  1 
oClock —  and  quite  calme —  A  very  dark  Evening. 

1 6th.  Tuesday.  Rained  most  part  of  the  night — Thunder 
at  a  Distance,  about  day  breake — A  great  number  of  Pigeons 

62The  census  of  1769  includes  Lorraine's  name  among  the  nine  heads  of 
families  then  at  Miamitown.  In  1763  he,  or  another  of  the  same  name,  was  at 
Ouiatanon  when  the  savages  overpowered  the  English  garrison.  Lorraine  and 
another  Frenchman  were  instrumental  in  saving  the  lives  of  the  captives.  See 
Indiana  Historical   Society,  Pubs.,  II,  335,  440. 


358  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

flying  about  this  morning.  Very  calme  but  clowdy  &  thick. 
Began  to  Raine  about  11  oClock  &  continued  all  day —  The 
water  has  rose  a  good  deal  since  last  night. 

17th.  Wednesday.  St.  Patrick's —  Rained  excessively  hard 
all  night  &  still  continues  to  raine  a  little —  Water  rose  since 
last  night  at  least  ten  feet  &  still  rises  very  fast,  it  now  runs 
into  the  Gully —  Blows  pretty  fresh.  I'm  much  afraide  that 
we  shall'  have  a  second  flood.  Left  off  raining  about  11  or  12 
o'Clock.  Turned  out  a  very  fine  afternoon  and  Evening. 
Sent  Mr.  Abbott  a  String  of  Potatoes. 

18th.  Thursday.  Raw,  Clowdy  day.  Froze  very  hard  last 
night.  Water  has  rose  very  high,  even  with  the  bank —  Mr. 
Payees  People  obliged  to  quit  theire  House —  and  its  equal 
with  the  step  of  Kinzie  &  Cicotts  doors.  However  I  believe 
the  Frost  will  stop  its  progress.  Cleared  up  about  io'Clock  and 
turned  out  a  very  fine  afternoon  &  Evening ;  Water  still  rose 
all  day,  altho'  there  was  a  Frost, — about  a  foot. 

19th.  Friday.  Very  beautifull  day;  Froze  hard  last  night. 
Water  has  rose  very  little,  Its  almost  at  a  stand. —  Water  be- 
gan to  fall  a  little  this  afternoon — 

20th  Saturday.  Very  fine  morning,  rather  heazy.  Wind  at 
S.  warme ;  Very  little  Frost  last  night,  the  water  had  fallen 
about  5  inches  &  better  since  yesterday  afternoon. 

2 1  st.  Sunday.  Very  beautifull  day.  Quite  warme  &  Calme 
— Not  the  least  frost  last  night;  The  water  falls  very  slowly, 
not  a  foot  since  yesterday.  A  party  of  Shawanees  arrived  from 
war  at  their  village  the  19th  instant. —  They  have  brought 
three  Prisoners  &  a  negro  man.  It  seems  that  another  party 
of  them  attacked  a  boat  wherein  there  was  an  officer  &  about 
21  men.  They  killed  every  one  of  them;  Sank  the  Boat  &  hid 
every  utensill  they  found  in  it,  in  the  woods.     They  also  took 


Fort    Wayne    in    1790  359 

nineteen  persons  near  Limestown  which  they  have  all  Pris- 
oners except  2  or  3.  The  first  party  were  the  Chilicothy  Peo- 
ple —  &  the  others  the  Picowees.  One  of  the  above  Prisoners 
told  Mr.  Kinzie  this  morning  the  General  St.  Claire  came 
down  the  Ohio,  to  the  Bigg  Miami,  about  Christmas  last.  This 
man's  name  is  John  Witherington,  comes  from  a  place  called 
Limestown.  They  also  got  a  great  quantity  of  Linnen  out  of 
this  Boat —  It  seems  that  their  was  several  other  parties  out, 
some  of  the  Catawas  or  Cherokees  were  out  also ;  at  any  rate 
their  was  at  least  40  souls  taken  &  killed.  This  John  Wither- 
ington's  family  is  separated  from  him,  he  has  a  wife  7  months 
gone  with  childe  &  7  children,  which  some  of  the  other  Parties 
have  got  Prisoners.63 

22  Monday.  Clowdy  morning,  very  hard  shower  of  Raine 
in  the  course  of  the  Night ;  Very  calme —  water  falls  so  very 
slowly  that  its  hardly  perceivable — The  Miamias  of  the  oppo- 
site side  danced  from  7  oClock  last  Evening  untill  this  morning 
at  day  breake ;  they  were  taken  in  what  they  call  their  Natt, 
which  is  with  them,  like  the  Colours  of  a  Regiment,  with  us ; 
they  take  it  out  to  war  with  them,  and  when  they  return,  there 
is  a  ceremony  of  taken  it  into  the  Council  House,  Chiefs  House 
or  Place  where  they  keep  theire  Trophies.  It  seems  that  this 
Natt  has  been  out  ever  since  last  fall.  Thus  custom  prevailes 
amongst  all  the  Indian  Nations.  But  there  are  a  number  of 
Tribes  who  have  not  those  Natts. 

23rd.  Tuesday.  Clowdy  day.  Quite  calme  &  not  the  least 
cold —  A  little  raine  last  night —  water  fallen  a  good  deal 
since  yesterday. —  An  Indian,  a  Miami  arrived  last  Evening 
from  the  Post,  brought  a  letter  to  Mr.  L.  Dubois  from  one 

63For   accounts   of   similar   raids   upon   the   Americans    in   the   vicinity    of   Cin- 
cinnati at  this  time  see  Atner.   St.   Papers,  Ind.   Affs.,   I,   86 — 91. 


360  Fort   Wayne   in    1790 

Perret  Gamlains,  Notary  Public  of  that  place ;  Nothing  extra- 
ordinary in  that  part  of  the  Country ;  the  Garrison  consists  of 
upward  of  one  Hundred  men,  &  officers  &c.  This  Indian  has 
passed  the  winter  about  the  Environs  of  Post  Vincennes. 

Their  seemingly  is  a  very  great  want  of  Provisions  in  that 
place —  the  Garrison  the  same,  They  are  obliged  to  kill  the  cat- 
tle belonging  to  the  settlers.64 

24th.  Wednesday.  Very  Clowdy  morning,  but  turned  out 
a  very  fine  day  about  12  or  1  oClock.  Water  fallen  greatly; 
The  Gully  clear  of  water,  but  very  muddy — Geo.  Girty  re- 
turned this  day  from  the  woods.  One  John  Thompson  who 
was  taken  amongst  the  19  mentioned  the  21st  Instant —  came 
here  this  day —  He  informed  me  that  their  was  a  great  talk 
of  raising  men  to  come  against  the  Ind's ;  However  General 
St.  Clair  who  is  now  at  the  Bigg  Miami  with  two  boat  loads 
of  goods,  means  to  call  the  Indians  together  at  a  Council  at 
Post  Vincennes —  But  if  the  Indians  do  not  come  to  a  settle- 
ment with  them,  they  mean  to  fight  them.  He  says  that  he 
understood  about  Christn — [torn]  A  War  was  [torn]  be- 
tween [four  leaves  missing]  this  morning  of  which  a  descrip- 
tion is  here  with  inserted  in  this  Paper —  Waited  upon  all  the 
people  of  yeplace  this  morning,  and  bid  them  farewell.  Dined 
at  Mr.  Adamhers  &  received  the  letters  of  that  family,  thanked 
them  for  the  politeness  and  attention  they  paid  me  during  my 
stay  at  the  Miamies.  Settled  with  Marie  Louisa,  respecting  a 
Horse  which  she  is  to  purchase  and  send  in  to  me  by  her  son 
Mr.  J.  B.  Richerville.  Left  the  Miamis  about  J^  past  12 
oClock.  had  the  pleasure  at  the  same  time  of  being  told  by 
Mr.  &  Mrs.  Adamher  that  I  was  much  regretted  by  every  one 
in  the  village.     Stopped  about  9  leagues  below  the  Miamis  abt 

64During  the  winter   of   1789-90  the   inhabitants  of  Vincennes  were   in  a  con- 
dition bordering  upon  starvation.      See   Dunn,  Indiana,   269. 


Fort   Wayne   in    1790  361 

5  oClock  in  the  afternoon ;  stopped  a  leake  in  our  Peerogue, 
made  a  fire  and  put  up  our  tent ;  Began  to  raine  about  4 
oClock ;  Rained  very  hard  almost  all  the  night. 

2d  April  Friday.  About  l/2  past  2  oClock  got  under  way,  the 
Rain  being  over  &  moon  lighte.  Stopped  at  1 1  leagues  below 
the  place  we  slept  at  last  night ;  at  the  Indian  Wigwaum  from 
whom  we  got  the  Rackoon  last  fall  going  out ;  The  two  french- 
men that  are  with  us  bought  some  sugar  for  Tobacco — The 
Ind'n  gave  Mr.  Leith  &mea  large  piece,  for  which  we  gave 
him  some  Bread  in  return ;  Mr.  Leith  promised  to  send  him 
some  Tobacco.  Arrived  at  the  Glaize  at  Mr.  McDonnels  about 
4  oClock  this  afternoon —  hich  is  30  Leagues  from  the  Miami 
Town.  Just  before  sun  sett  Messrs.  Sheppard  &  Sharpe  ar- 
rived from  Detroit,  they  left  their  Peerogue  in  the  morning 
and  walked  up —  They  left  Detroit  the  24th.  March.  As  they 
left  the  letters  in  the  Pierogue  we  can  not  get  them  till  tomor- 
row morning. 

3d.  Saturday.  I  cannot  help  mentioning  how  very  hospita- 
bly we  were  received  by  Mr.  McDonnell  who  gave  us  the  best 
he  had —  he  was  also  so  obliging  as  to  give  me  several  cakes 
of  Mapell  Sugar  one  of  which  is  for  Richard  with  his  Com- 
pliments—  he  likewise  gave  me  a  few  Turkey  wings.  We 
parted  with  him  &  Messrs.  Shepherd  &  Sharpe  about  y2  past  8 
oClock.  Met  with  Mr.  Shepherds  pierogue  about  2  leagues  be- 
low the  Glaize  Mr.  Leith  took  his  letter  out  of  Mr.  Shepherds 
Trunk  &  I  took  one  from  my  Brother  out  of  Mr.  Sharpes, 
agreeable  to  their  desire—  Arrived  at  Mr.  J.  Cochrans  about 
}i  past  5  oclock  which  is  15  leagues  from  the  Glaize.  Stopped 
a  little  &  got  a  little  maderia  &  grogg,  from  where  proceeded 
down  the  Rapids,65 

65Apparently    the    concluding    portion    of    the    Journal    has    been     destroyed. 
In   its  present  condition  it   closes   abruptly   at   this   point. 


